英语听力：自然百科 三岁女童成尼泊尔活女神

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Matina Shakya received approval from the priests and president in a centuries-old tradition with deep ties to Nepal's monarchy² which was abolished in May.

 

A panel of judges conducted/ a series of ancient ceremonies to select the goddess from several girls who are all members of the impoverished³ Shakya goldsmith caste. The judges read the candidates' horoscopes, checked each one for physical imperfections, and ensured the candidate was not afraid of the dark. As a final test, the living goddess spent a night alone in a room among the heads of ritually slaughtered⁴ goats and buffaloes⁵ without showing fear.

 

The child will live in almost complete isolation⁶ at the temple, and can return to her family only at the onset⁷ of menstruation when a new goddess will be named.

 

Tradition says the Kumari may leave her new home only for festivals a few times a year.

 

"Getting our daughter selected as the Kumari is a happy moment for us, and also a proud moment, as she is revered⁸ as the powerful goddess in our society. But at the same time, I feel sad that our daughter will have to live separately from us."

 

Matina replaces 12-year-old Preeti Shakya, who has now returned to her family home.

 

The living goddesses are traditionally paraded during an annual festival giving thanks for the monsoon⁹ rains when dozens of chanting worshippers pull her enormous wooden chariot through the narrow streets of Kathmandu’s old city.

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