By Gopal Sharma
KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's religious authorities pickedthe country's next "living goddess" or Kumari in acenturies-old tradition on Friday, priests and officials said,but the question now is who will appoint her as a deity.
Traditionally, the head priest of the now-deposed KingGyanendra appointed the "living goddess" but with the abolitionof Nepal's monarchy on May 29, that position no longer exists.
"We have requested the government for directives as to whoshould appoint Kumari now," said Semanta Raj Chapagain, chiefof the state-run Trust Corporation overseeing cultural affairs.
"It cannot remain empty for long," he said.
The Himalyan nation ended its 239-year-old monarchy andbecame a republic last month, following elections in Aprilwhich saw the country's former Maoist rebels score a surprisewin to emerge as the biggest political party in the 601-memberconstituent assembly.
The new republic's key political parties are now grapplingwith the formation of a new government and the election of anew president.
Religious authorities in the ancient temple town ofBhaktapur, on Friday selected a six-year-old child, Shreeya, toreplace her predecessor Sajani Shakya, who retired earlier thisyear, after being worshipped by devout Hindus and Buddhists fornine years as the Kumari of Bhaktapur, which is near Kathmandu.
Sajani, the previous Kumari of Bhaktapur, madeinternational headlines last year after she visited the UnitedStates to promote a film by a British company about the ancientpractice.
Some religious authorities criticised the trip, saying itwas against tradition. She retired at the request of herfamily.
Religious authorities said they were happy with the newchoice.
"We have selected Shreeya in accordance with a traditionalprocess from among ten aspirants," said Narendra Joshi, thechief of a religious panel that made the selection. He did notexplain how she was selected.
Under the Kumari tradition, a girl selected from a BuddhistNewar family goes through a rigorous cultural process andbecomes the "living goddess".
She is considered by many as an incarnation of the powerfuldeity Kali and is revered by many until she menstruates, afterwhich she must return to the family and a new one is chosen.
Some human rights activists have petitioned the SupremeCourt to end the practice saying it denies the child her normallife.
The apex court is expected to deliver a judgement on thepetition in July.
(Editing by Bappa Majumdar and Valerie Lee)
