As i'm a nepAlien (meaning nepalese who was born and grow up in a foreign country), i was so amazed and fascinated with the Indra Jatra festival when i was there in Kathmandu years back ago. I had no idea that nepali people do celebrate lot of different kinds of festivals beside Dashain. And the photo of the KUMARI do mesmerized me whenever i look at it, even today. It's really something unique that i have ever seen in my whole life and i'm damn proud of it. But after hearing the real story about the KUMARI, it really ached my heart. However i still do agree with "happy_by_choice", that none of cultures should be abolished but instead it should be reformed and adjusted to fit into the new generation. Our cultures are the root of our identity and the heritage of the nation. It's really a great honour to be selected as a "KUMARI". But it's also time to set new rules and regulations. Compared to our ancestor, parents today are more educated and wiser. They know that nothing good will come out of being KUMARI rather than just receiving honour and respect while she is still on the throne. But life is not that all....she need more than that to survive in today's world once she is out from the throne. Maybe it was not a need in the olden time but not any more. They have to realise that as time past by, lots of things are also changing and the need and demand of human are also increasing as the world is getting competitive. That's why now-a-days many parents are not willing to give their daughter as a KUMARI. That's also another sad story. Is Indra Jatra going to meet it's dead end soon. But i'm sure if the the government look into this issues more serious and amend new rules and regulation by giving more facilities, education, more pension and more visiting time for the parents of the young KUMARI who also needs lots of love and tender from her parents like everyone of us, then i guess everyone will be more willing to give their daugther as a KUMARI. She shoud be also brought up in such a way that after leaving the throne she would be able to face the world with confident and dignity. And here we are not talking about any ordinary girl but a KUMARI whom all of us worship as a GODDESS.