Kumari - Literally 'virgin', a young girl who is regarded as the incarnation of the Hindu goddess Taleju; remains only in her divine state until she has lost the first drop of blood, either by a wound or her first menstruation; at any given time there are several Kumaris in the cities of the Kathmandu Valley. The Kumari is chosen from the Shakya caste of the Nepalese Newari community.

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Keywords: 1998, asia, asian, baha, bahal, buddhism, buddhist, ha, hakha, kathmandu, krack, lalitpur, mahavihara, mahayana, nepal, nepalese, patan, photograph, rainer, ratnakar, statue, temple, temples, vajrayana, valley