Hopes of health and good habits as goddess girls are worshipped

KATHMANDU, Nepal - Over 100 young girls aged under 10 years old participated in the ancient Kumari Puja, part of a festival dedicated to rain god "Indra Jatra", in Nepal on Monday.

The mass ceremony, organized by the World Youth Hindu Federation, took place in the Hanuman Dhoka located in the world heritage site Basantapur Durbar Square.

In this edition annual Kumari Puja, about 108 young girls belonging to the ethnic Newari community dressed up as the living goddess Kumari, were worshipped.