Nepal chooses a 2-year-old girl as new living goddess worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists

['News Staff', 'Binaj Gurubacharya', 'The Associated Press', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width'] CityNews Halifax 2025-09-30 00:00:00

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A two-year-old girl chosen as Nepal’s new living goddess was carried by family members from their home in an alley in Kathmandu to a temple palace Tuesday during the country’s longest and most significant Hindu festival. Living goddesses are worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists. During religious festivals the living goddess is wheeled around on a chariot pulled by devotees. Family, friends and devotees paraded Shakya through the streets of Kathmandu on Tuesday, before entering the temple palace which will be her home for several years. She became the living goddess in 2017.