Hey everyone!
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all who subscribed this week! Gotta admit, launching this blog had me feeling a bit nervous. Wasn't sure if anyone would be into it. But seeing so many of you sign up has given me a real boost. I’m excited to share my journey with you, and I’ll do my best to make it entertaining and thought-provoking.
And so, with no further ado …
Hello Friends and Fellow Explorers,
I hope this finds you in great spirits!
By a stroke of luck, I find myself in Kathmandu on the day of one of its most splendid festivals—the Kumāri Jātrā. This celebration centers around the Kumari, a young girl revered as a living Goddess.
The Kumari.
The child is believed to possess divine powers, so she spends her tender years bestowing blessings, healings, and divinations. Her feet must never touch the ground, and she must remain serene and emotionless at all times. I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for a child denied the innocence of her early years, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to witness a living Goddess with my very own eyes.
So, I dove headfirst into the lively chaos of the dusty streets to partake in the festivities.
It was utter chaos - as though the city's entire population had converged upon the ancient Durbar Square. The noise was incredible, the clashing drums, clanging bells and exuberant chanting were exhilarating. Amidst this frenzy, I did manage to catch a glimpse of the Kumari, a mere five years old, as she was paraded through the square. Locals and tourists alike bombarded her with a sea of flashbulbs. I couldn't help but wonder if I detected a hint of sadness in her eyes.
A young local man approached me with the cheeky greeting of 'Where you from?' We engaged in conversation and he shared a story that is rather sad. The young girl will remain Kumari until the day of her first menstruation, at which point another child will be chosen. The former Kumaris often struggle with the transition of being worshipped one day and cast aside the next.
To make matters worse, there is a superstition that says that anyone who marries an ex-Kumari will suffer illness and death, so these young women are often shunned by potential suitors.
Imaginary Ice Cream.
As I made my way back to my hotel, I spied a young girl, not much older than the Kumari herself. She stood in front of an ice cream vendor, her eyes sparkling with innocent longing as she gazed at the colorful pictures of ice cream cones. With childlike imagination, she reached out to pluck a strawberry ice cream cone from the picture, and began licking the imaginary treat with pure delight.
This touching moment left me contemplating the potential of childlike imagination and the power of belief. I couldn’t help but wonder, if the Kumari genuinely believes in her own divinity, could her blessings and healings possess a tangible transformative power?
If I were a five-year-old living Goddess, I would insist on mandatory ice cream for everyone. I’d also probably make it rain jellybeans and turn people into frogs just for fun, so its a a good thing that I’m not a Kumari.
And so, it was a thought-provoking first day of what promises to be a fascinating trip. Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more tales from my travels.
✌️❤️
Grant.
If you enjoyed this story, please share with friends, and leave a comment below, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
well done GB, interesting that a culture striving for greatest enlightenment is also plunging to the depths of stupidity at the same time. that's duality for us. this one sees a living goddess every time me peepers glimpse a Sheela no mater what age she be.
Do you know how or why any one child is selected? Do they do something similar with boys or is it only girls?