The Nepal Weekly 
December 26, 2023
Rashmila Shakya, former Kumari of Kathmandu, is a living example that proves the Kumari, or the Living Goddess, can, as any other girl, tie nuptial knot with a man, give birth to children and enjoy a happy married life. She refutes the belief that the man who marries a Kumari girl will die soon.
Rashmila, though a retired Kumari, is gorgeous, soft spoken and acquainted with the latest technology.
Rashmila was only four years old when she was chosen as the Kumari. She became Kumari from 2042 B.S. and retired in 2049 B.S. Being the Kumari she was deprived of formal education at that time but got one hour tuition every day from her teacher. When she left Kumari home at the age of 12. Then she started her formal education joining class 2. Since she grew up in the Kumari home located at Basantapur at early age, she has no memory of her childhood except as the Kumari. She feels normal to lead the life of a Kumari and enjoys when people worshiped her as the Living Goddess.
When she left Kumari home it became difficult for her to adjust to the new environment, she recalls. “As I started living in my parents’ house, everything felt new, even walking became difficult”.
“Inside always wearing velvet slippers, it became uncomfortable to wear leather shoes when going outside to attend school,” says Rashmila. “I was poor in my study compared to my brother and sister,” she added.
Although she started her schooling late, she later on succeeded in gaining higher education. However, she had to struggle hard. She studied up to Master’s degree and became an engineer with a degree in Information Technology. And she was able to stand on her own feet.
Rashmila completed her Bachelor’s studies from KIST college and became a software engineer. She spent her 11 years working in the field of information technology. Rashmila, who is in her early forties, is currently unemployed and seeking for a new job.
She has proven not only that a Kumari girl can enter a married life, have children and lead a happy life but she is also a testimony that a Kumari girl can succeed in attaining higher education and start a carrier in IT sector by learning the latest technology.
However, she had to struggle a lot over the period of time after retiring from the Kumari. She entered the married life, though a little late in age as per the tradition of that time. Many aspiring boys came to see her for marriage. But she was rejected for several times. It was surprising for her to see the misconception prevalent in our society that if a man marries the Kumari, he will soon die. “I heard that men search for a girl with 32 qualities to get married. I was chosen to become the Kumari because of those 32 qualities. But why was I got rejected for marries though I possess those 32 qualities,” asks Rashmila with a surprize.
Suddenly one day I met a man, who easily agreed to tie nuptial knot with me. I got married in early thirties, which is considered older age for women at that time, to get married. After retirement I got a cash of Rs. 300 for leaving the Kumari Ghar. However, at the age of 21 Guthi Sansthan provided me with Rs. 10,000 cash as wedding expenses.”
“If Kumari should not get married, then why would Guthi allocated the wedding expenses for me?” she asked. Now she had her small family with a husband and a son, and enjoying a happy family.
