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  • 10 hours ago
This video was originally published on Broadly and is being repurposed by Refinery29.

In this video, we venture to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal to meet a special young woman. She is a Kumari, or living goddess, who lives by many rules including that her feet may never touch the ground. Press play to understand what this spiritual tradition is all about.

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Transcript
00:16KUMARI REVEE
00:16In Nepal, I was born in Kumaari Revi.
00:24I was born in Kumaari Revi.
00:31I was born and born and grew up in Bangladesh.
00:35In India, all would be born.
00:46When I was born I was born and born.
00:51When I was born, I was born.
00:53It's almost impossible.
00:58First, there are many parts.
01:00Sometimes I take part life in a little place.
01:03The gateway remains.
01:06So, I will come to our house.
01:09When we hear, we have to live in our house.
01:12We will now see what happens.
01:16When we do things, we can get into our house.
01:25It was about 5 years ago, and it was about 2 years ago.
01:59I was working on handicrafts, and I had to work here.
02:04I had to work here, and I had to work here.
02:05I had to work here, and I had to work here.
02:47My name is Biposa Barjacharya, and I am Kumari elder sister.
02:53I help her for doing homework, and while she's inside, she cannot contact with others, so I help her how
03:03to contact with others.
03:06She was very interested on the liner. She was interested on the flower.
03:11She was very interested in listening the stories of the goddess from the small ears.
03:18She sometimes reads the storybook. It's about the princess.
03:22It's the Cinderella Snow White, and that's all.
03:27She likes to play with violin also.
03:55She likes to play with violin and if she likes to play with a role, the girls seem to play
04:00with an adult.
04:03She likes to play with a beautiful face.
04:32I don't know.
05:02I'm Sumika Bodhisari. I'm a former Kumari of Patton.
05:09Maybe around 11 years old, I had my first period. All the world turning upside down for me.
05:17It was a bit of a sad moment for the whole family and for me as well.
05:22So after that, life has to continue.
05:25So no more puzas, no more visitors, no more going out to festivals.
05:31Then life just went in a slow pace.
05:36I was a first Kumari who got education.
05:39I work in a communications organisation.
05:42I'm doing my Master's study as well.
05:44So I'm balancing both my work and my studies too.
05:50Since I know I was a Kumari, every moment was precious.
05:56So it was never difficult for me.
06:03I don't expect people to respect me.
06:06I don't expect people to respect me.
06:08I don't go around and say I'm Kumari and you have to respect me.
06:11I don't do that.
06:12It's the feeling of the people.
06:13If they feel, they can.
06:15If they don't, I don't mind.
06:22The tradition has changed a lot from past till me being Kumari.
06:27So I don't have big dreams, but let's hope.
06:30I have big hopes.
06:32So like the field I'm working, then I do have big hopes in that field too.
06:52If I could, I can't let go.
06:56I don't want to see that's amazing.
06:59I have to enjoy the rest of my life.
07:00And I just couldn't.
07:01I can't remember the rest of my life.
07:04The family keeps me spiritually doing the best.
07:04I can't do it!
07:06It is a God.
07:07It doesn't work.
07:07It doesn't work.
07:07It doesn't work, but I am thinking.
07:09¶¶
07:12¶¶
07:14I was the first one to get a job, and I was like,
07:17I'm like, you know, I'm going to get a job.
07:22I like to get a job from the best.
07:25And I'll get a job from the best I had to buy from.
07:31I was going to get a job from the best.

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