A Kumari is a young prepubescent girl selected from the Shakya or Bajracharya caste of the Nepalese Newari community to be worshipped as a manifestation of divine female energy in Hinduism and Buddhism. The tradition of worshiping a living Kumari is primarily practiced in Nepal, with the most prominent one being the Royal Kumari of Kathmandu.

The selection process for a Kumari is rigorous and includes several tests to ensure that the girl possesses certain qualities deemed necessary for the role. Among these tests, one that often stands out as particularly intense involves the young candidate having to spend a night alone in a room among the heads of ritually slaughtered goats and buffaloes without showing fear. This is part of a ceremony known as the 'battis lakshanas' or 'thirty-two perfections' test, which is intended to confirm her divine qualities.

The rationale behind this challenging test is to ensure that the young girl has the serenity and courage expected of a living goddess. She must not cry or show signs of fear, as this would indicate that she is not the embodiment of Taleju, the goddess who is believed to inhabit the chosen Kumari.

While this test might sound frightening, it is important to remember that it is steeped in cultural and religious significance for the communities that practice this tradition. The chosen Kumari is revered and taken care of until she reaches puberty, at which point she returns to a normal life and a new Kumari is selected.

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