The Oldest Kumari

Dhana Kumari Bajracharya resides amidst the hustle and bustle in Gabahal, Patan. She is a 70 year old woman, who you would think is much younger at age, if you look at her. Age seems to have done justice to this beautiful woman. What makes this wise old woman different than other wise old women in Patan? She is the oldest Kumari of Patan.

Kumari, the living goddess is a tradition or a practice that has been around for many years and that has been celebrated widely in the Kathmandu Valley. The very first Kumari goes back to 17^th Century. The process to choose the Kumari is divine and a girl must go through several tests to get chosen as the Kumari. Dhana Kumari Bajracharya is the longest serving Kumari of Patan having been established as the Kumari from 2010 B.S to 2042 B.S. A whooping 32 years. Perhaps her case is the most rare that we might come across. A girl serves as a Kumari until she reaches puberty, or she has her first menstruation. After that, it is believed that the spirit of Goddess Taleju leaves her body. However, Dhana Kumari Bajracharya has never had her menstruation, which is why she ruled as the Kumari of Patan for more than average span.

Bajracharya became Kumari in the year of 2010 B.S when was three years old. It was during the reign of King Mahendra. During the annual chariot festival in Kathmandu valley, when the royal family made a visit to the city of Patan for the famous Bhotojatra on 2042 B.S., a question was raised by crown Prince Dipendra to the then King Birendra as to why Kumari of Kathmandu was a little girl, but the Kumari of Patan or Lalitpur was a young woman. The question, was of course, the result of a curious mind and innocence. But it peaked controversy and made the royal family think. A search committee was sent to stay and observe at the Bajracharya house, to find out if things were trying to remain hidden. The search committee found nothing on their end and announced that there was no evidence to accuse the Kumari. But the royal family wouldn’t have it. As a result, the royal family dethroned the reigning Kumari Dhana Kumari Bajracharya stating she was too old to stay the Kumari.

Needless to say, Bajracharya’s heart was broken. After all, the rule was that a Kumari is dethroned when she has her first menstruation. The search committee also consisted of medical people and things only ended up on Bajracharya’s favor. She never started menstruation to begin with. But it was hard changing the mind of the royal family. The royal priest was ordered to bring in a new Kumari; a little girl. Post the dethroning, a firm decision was taken: a decision to stay as the Kumari despite what the royal family said.

And Bajracharya has stayed true to her word. It has been 34 years after the dethroning. Every day, she performs nitya puja in the morning. She drapes an embroidered red shawl like the one she wore during her reign, she scrapes her hair into a neat knot on top of her head and lines her eyes with kohl curved upwards to her temples. She attends to her devotees till the late morning and sometimes the whole day through. Devotees are large in number especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays and there is a crowd during the Dashain time. Bajracharya spends her other time with her family, takes interest in TV shows and newspapers and even chores like gardening. 

I was fortunate enough to get to know her better through her niece Chanira Bajracharya, who herself has served as a Kumari. a meeting with whom was set with the help from my friend Yogita Bajracharya. Life may have turned out to be different for Dhana Kumari Bajracharya, but it is a life of pride and respect, one that she does not regret. As controversial as her dethroning may have been, and her decision to stay the Kumari, she is definitely a Kumari that all will remember.