The Living Goddess

Explores the practice among the Newar people of Nepal of deifying selected female children as living representatives of ancient goddesses. She is known as the Royal Kamari (Living Goddess) of Katmandu and is chosen at the age of three; never given a personal name; dressed ritually everyday; never speaks in public nor is commanded. She is a red goddess and her own mother serves as her attendant, dresser and decorator. Both Hinduism and Tantric Buddhism are referred to in the narrative.