Child goddesses of Nepal

[JJM 777]

Randi writes in his commentary:

"GODDESS AT LARGE

An anonymous reader tells us:

'Here’s a story about a girl who was declared to be inhabited by a goddess. It doesn't seem as harmful as it could be, but people give money to the girl's family and ask for good fortune.'"

---

We are talking about "kumari" child goddesses, a Nepalese tradition. (I think National Geographic had an article about this not very long ago.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumari

Not a completely harmless practice for the child: Her family will visit her rarely. She will neither work nor attend school. She is expected to behave as befits a goddess.

Her limited playmates must learn to respect her. Since her every wish must be granted, they must learn to surrender to her whatever they have that she may want and to defer to her wishes in what games to play or activities to engage in.

The end of a Kumari's divinity is abrupt and totally unplanned. As soon as she mentruates Durga 'vacates her body' and she reverts to being a mere mortal.

... but after such a spoilt childhood, what will happen to her after she becomes a "normal" person at the age of 11 or so?

[BillyJoe]

Your question must be being seen as rhetorical because no one is answering it.

[abelian grape]

The linked article was interesting and unpleasant.

Firstly the article was written in a style of barely concealed belief, possibly out of "cultural respect" as the anonymous reader suggests. But I'm not so sure. Which segues to the second point.

Secondly, were these school children really being told that this girl is genuinely a goddess in little-girl form? Surely this ranks up there with creationism in Kansas as appalling education standards.

Lastly (although many more points can be made), the method of selecting the 'goddess' is worthy of mention. Didn't judging a person's worth based on their shape and skin colour go out of fashion around the same time as we stopped condoning slavery? A slippery slope I think.

[JJM 777]

were these school children really being told that this girl is genuinely a goddess in little-girl form?
Perhaps not so convincigly in America, more so in Nepal.

Didn't judging a person's worth based on their shape and skin colour go out of fashion
Funny that you mention the word "fashion".

And valuing people for smallest details of their beauty.

Mannequins, Miss this and Miss that, pop musicians -- the worth of all of these is based on their shape and skin. Slavery is gone, but this hasn't gone anywhere.

[chillzero]

deleted - misread.

[abelian grape]

Mannequins, Miss this and Miss that, pop musicians -- the worth of all of these is based on their shape and skin. Slavery is gone, but this hasn't gone anywhere.

Point taken.

I was feeling outraged by the uncritical media report and so I missed the glaring oversight in my diatribe. Correction appreciated