November 2007 To believers, Nepal's child goddesses or Kumaris can bestow luck with a glance. But when these children grow up, returning to normal life is virtually impossible.... more

November 2007 To believers, Nepal's child goddesses or Kumaris can bestow luck with a glance. But when these children grow up, returning to normal life is virtually impossible. Girls selected as Kumaris must be aged between two and four and satisfy all the conditions of '32 perfections'. For a few short years, "all Nepalese people worship them" states one woman. But as soon as they experience their first menstruation, they lose their goddess status. less