Young Nepalese girls in their traditional attire wait for Kumari puja at Hanuman Dhoka, Basantapur Durbar Square, Katmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept 17, 2013. More than hundred girls under the age of nine gathered for Kumari puja, a tradition of worshiping young pre-pubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy. The ritual holds a strong religious significance in Newar community. It is a community affair held primarily to save small girls from diseases and bad luck in the years to come.
Section:Photo