The Kumari festival is a part of the Indra Jatra festival in which the primary purpose is to worship the God Indra. During Indra Jatra, occurring in September, the Living Goddess in all her jeweled splendor travels through the older part of Kathmandu city in a three-tiered chariot made of wood accompanied by Lord Ganesha and Bhairab for three days. Kathmandu celebrates a great festival of Indra Jatra the god of rain is worshiped for good weather and good crops. During another important Hindu festival, Dashain on the "black night" or kalratri, 108 buffaloes and 108 goats are brought to the courtyard of the Taleju temple and tethered to stone pillars. The heads are then severed and taken up to the temple as offerings to Goddess Taleju.
A girl remains the Kumari until she reveals any signs that show her to be human rather than divine. Should a Kumari fall ill, a doctor may be summoned only if the illness is so serious that she is first declared to be no longer a goddess. Under normal circumstances, her days in the god-house come to an end with her first menstruation, but if she turns out to be unlucky, as people say, even a minor scratch that bleeds can make her invalid for worship. She then changes back to the status of normal mortal and the search for a new Kumari begins. she immediately ceases to be regarded as a goddess, goes through final rituals, and hands back her jewels and red attire. The spirit of the goddess is said to have vacated her body. She now returns to her family, after living the life of luxury as a goddess.
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