Inside courtroom College protests Start the day smarter ☀️ Bird colors explained
NEWS
Festivals

Hindu festival in Nepal honors female energy

A Nepalese mother applies make up to her daughter dressed as the living goddess Kumari as they wait for Kumari Puja to start at Hanuman Dhoka Temple, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Girls under the age of nine gathered for the Kumari Puja, a tradition of worshiping young prepubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy. The ritual holds a strong religious significance in the Newar community that seeks divine blessings to save small girls from diseases and bad luck in the years to come.
A Nepalese mother applies make up to her daughter dressed as the living goddess Kumari as they wait for Kumari Puja to start at Hanuman Dhoka Temple, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Girls under the age of nine gathered for the Kumari Puja, a tradition of worshiping young prepubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy. The ritual holds a strong religious significance in the Newar community that seeks divine blessings to save small girls from diseases and bad luck in the years to come.
Niranjan Shrestha, AP
A young Nepalese girl wears traditional attire while playing with a vessel while waiting for the Kumari Puja to start at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
A young Nepalese girl wears traditional attire while playing with a vessel while waiting for the Kumari Puja to start at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Niranjan Shrestha, AP
A Nepalese mother speaks with her daughter dressed as the living goddess Kumari as they wait for Kumari Puja to start at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
A Nepalese mother speaks with her daughter dressed as the living goddess Kumari as they wait for Kumari Puja to start at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Niranjan Shrestha, AP
Young Nepalese girls wear traditional costumes while they wait for the Kumari Puja to start at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Young Nepalese girls wear traditional costumes while they wait for the Kumari Puja to start at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Niranjan Shrestha, AP
A Nepalese woman gets photographed with a young girl dressed as the Living Goddess Kumari while waiting for the Kumari Puja to start at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
A Nepalese woman gets photographed with a young girl dressed as the Living Goddess Kumari while waiting for the Kumari Puja to start at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Niranjan Shrestha, AP
A young Nepalese girl wears a traditional costume while being carried by her mother for Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
A young Nepalese girl wears a traditional costume while being carried by her mother for Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Niranjan Shrestha, AP
A Nepalese girl wears traditional attire while attending the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
A Nepalese girl wears traditional attire while attending the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency
Nepalese girls wearing traditional attire are carried by their mothers during the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Nepalese girls wearing traditional attire are carried by their mothers during the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency
A Nepalese girl wears traditional attire while walking with her mother during the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
A Nepalese girl wears traditional attire while walking with her mother during the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency
A Nepalese girl wears traditional attire and jewelry on her foot while attending the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
A Nepalese girl wears traditional attire and jewelry on her foot while attending the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency
A Nepalese mother prepares her daughter prior attending the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
A Nepalese mother prepares her daughter prior attending the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency
A Nepalese girl wears traditional attire and jewelry while attending the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
A Nepalese girl wears traditional attire and jewelry while attending the Kumari Puja at Hanuman Dhoka Temple.
Narendra Shrestha, European Pressphoto Agency
Featured Weekly Ad