Naresh Newar's piece ('Fee fight keeps tourists away from the Kumari', #160) upset me. It is up to the believers of any faith to maintain the institutions or temples of that faith. There is no dharma in receiving the blessings of the Kumari if the believers do not put in the necessary money or support for the institution of the Kumari-including the physical infrastructure and generous compensation for the caretakers of the Kumari, as well as very reasonable support for the Kumari herself. The few thousand rupees per month that she presently gets from the government does no honour to the richest people in the country. The little girl selected to be the Kumari shows us the God that resides in all human beings. We should be thankful to her for the difficult job she performs and recognise the fact that the living goddess herself is a human being and must get the best education available. She should not depend on government handouts; all believers in the cult of the Kumari should share this responsibility: from the Newars of Kathmandu to the king who ritually receive her blessings in order to rule for another year.

The argument that the municipality uses the money raised from tourists to pave the streets of the city is quite obscene. Residents of Kathmandu pay taxes for road maintenance and it is shameful that the country's richest city has to depend on contributions of foreigners for this purpose. There is no doubt that money will continue to be raised from tourists who come to the Hanuman Dhoka complex. But there has to be greater sensitivity about the fees charged for allowing tourists to gape at the Kumari. If the caretakers feel that they are entitled to even a small part of the money raised from the exhibition of the Kumari, then they are indeed involved in an abusive form of child labour. The caretakers should take up the case of adequate compensation only with those who receive the blessings of the Kumari and definitely not depend on tourist fees. If we continue to accept money from non-believers to see the Kumari, then we have to accept anything outsiders say about her.

I propose that the whole Hanuman Dhoka complex be declared a Kumari sanctuary and its maintenance be independent of tourist revenue. This is an important religious, cultural and political institution that should have nothing to do with foreigners. All revenues raised from tourists who come here should be spent in a way that is in harmony with the true spirit of Kumari worship: like scholarships for the education of girls.

Kabindra Pradhan,
Butwal