The Rising Nepal
BY SUSHMA MAHARJAN
Kathmandu, Sept. 10: Kathmandu city is now filled with the atmosphere of Indrajatra. The Living Goddess Kumari has always been the main attraction of the annual jatra.
Living Goddess Kumari was first sanctified in the annual Indrajatra by the last Malla King Jaya Prakash Malla in the Kathmandu Valley in the 12th century. At the same time, the Malla King had coined a term ‘Chitaidar’ to officially designate the caretakers of the Goddess Kumari from the state.
Chitaidar is an official designation only used in the Kathmandu Valley. They are the persons who look after the Kumari and are in her service day and night.
Gautam Ratna Shakya and his family have been serving as a Chitaidar at Kumari Chhen since the sanctification of Kumari. His ancestor was the first Chitaidar. “I am the 11th generation of the same Shakya family to take care of the Kumari,” he said, “Altogether eight or nine family members engage in the service of the Kumari.”
The major duty of the Chitaidar is to look after the Kumari 24/7. The Kumari is a prepubescent girl selected from the Shakya caste of the Newars. Chitaidar Shakya said that all 16 Shakya biharas of the Kathmandu are called to enlist the name of three to 11-years-old girls interested in becoming a Kumari. The selected names are sent to Guthi Sansthan and after further study and observations one of the enlisted names is selected as a Kumari. The selected girl has to undergo through religious process and if she gets through, she will be declared the Kumari.
After becoming Kumari, she has to follow certain rules and regulations. She is taken to Kumari Chhen and has to stay there as long as she stays as the Kumari. She comes out only 13 times from the Kumari Chhen in a year.
While Kumari is placed at Kumari Chhen, Chitaidars look after all her necessities. The Kumari wakes up around 7am, Shakya and his family members help Kumari in her morning routine, prepare all the elements for Nitya Puja (regular worship), and prepare a breakfast. After that, Kumari is prepared to give her glance through the window of the Kumari Chhen to her devotees. The lunch is prepared by 11 am.
Goddess Kumari receives homeschooling from 12 to 4pm. Then Chitaidars prepare a meal for her. She again grants an audience at the evening to her devotees for a few minutes. Then Chitaidars assist in her homework and prepare dinner. This daily routine continues throughout the year expect for some religious occasions like Indra Jatra, Bahidhyo Bhyowegu, Machhindranath Jatra and others. Chitaidars get her ready with the exquisite makeover and costumes and take her out of the house.
The Chitaidars not only look after the daily routine of the Goddess Kumari, they have been continuously trying to protect, preserve and uplift the life of Kumari along with the Gods Ganesh and Bhairava. However, unlike Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairava stay in their own homes. Shakya said that it is not easy for one to live a life of Goddess Kumari, Gods Ganesh and Bhirava. They are the national treasures and should be preserved.
Earlier, financial support from the state to these national treasures was very low. In 2014, Shakyas proposed Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)’s official Laxman Aryal to provide the financial support. After that, KMC
started giving Rs. 25,000 in monthly
allowance to the Chitaidars and the Kumari. At the same time, KMC also started giving Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 8,000 in monthly allowance to former Kumari and Ganesh and Bhairava respectively.
Expressing his happiness for the support from the KMC, Shakya added that currently the monthly allowance to Kumari and Chitaidar is Rs. 50,000 each. Former Kumari Rs. receives 15,000 and former Ganesh and Bhairava Rs, 12,000 each per month which continued since 2021.
The Chitaidars organise a programme once in a year to hand over the money to former Kumaris, Ganeshes and Bhairavas. The allowance of the current Kumari is saved in the account and she receives the money at once when she retires as a Kumari.
