# Chanira Bajracharya

_Nepalese kumari_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/chanira-bajracharya
Last updated: 2026-11-05

> Chanira Bajracharya is a former Kumari or Living Goddess of Patan in Nepal. She was enthroned when she was five years old, and stepped down at fifteen upon reaching puberty. She went on to work as a credit analyst and Charya dance instructor, and serves as secretary of an organization focused on promoting Newar music.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1995 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27978687#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Nepal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27978687#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Nepal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27978687#P27))
- **Occupation:** student ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27978687#P106))
- **Positions held:** Kumari of Patan (2001–2011) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27978687#P39))
- **Awards:** BBC 100 Women ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27978687#P166))

## Career

- She was born in Nepal, chosen as living goddess in April 2000, and enthroned as Kumari when she was five years-old. ([bbc.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27885141))
- She has stated that upon being enthroned she "instinctively" knew how to present herself and act with dignity. ([kathmandupost.com](https://kathmandupost.com/art-culture/2024/11/16/the-untold-story-of-a-kumari-s-mental-well-being))
- She listened to wishes, and has stated that she granted them or refused them based on "someone supreme", further stating that when Kumari, "you're not you, actually". ([npr.org](https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/05/28/410074105/the-very-strange-life-of-nepals-child-goddess))
- The day after she stopped crying, the Nepalese royal massacre occurred. ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/world/asia/nepal-kumari-living-goddess.html))
- She was succeeded by Samita Bajracharya. ([npr.org](https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/05/28/410074105/the-very-strange-life-of-nepals-child-goddess))
- Bajracharya is the niece of Dhana Kumari Bajracharya, one of the longest serving living goddesses, who reigned in Patan for three decades. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/20/nepals-earthquake-forces-living-goddess-to-break-decades-of-seclusion))

_Cited sentences quoted from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chanira_Bajracharya&oldid=1383708453), CC BY-SA 4.0._

## Questions

**When was Chanira Bajracharya born?**  
Chanira Bajracharya was born on 1995 in Nepal.

**What positions has Chanira Bajracharya held?**  
Positions held by Chanira Bajracharya include: Kumari of Patan (2001–2011).

## Related

- [Samita Bajracharya](https://diginpl.com/people/samita-bajracharya)
- [Tenzing Norgay](https://diginpl.com/people/tenzing-norgay)
- [Suman Pokhrel](https://diginpl.com/people/suman-pokhrel)
- [Manisha Koirala](https://diginpl.com/people/manisha-koirala)
- [Gyanendra of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/gyanendra-of-nepal)
- [Birendra of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/birendra-of-nepal)
- [Nirmal Purja](https://diginpl.com/people/nirmal-purja)
- [Dipendra of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/dipendra-of-nepal)
- [Udit Narayan](https://diginpl.com/people/udit-narayan)
- [Śuddhodana](https://diginpl.com/people/suddhodana)
- [Mahendra of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/mahendra-of-nepal)
- [Chandra Bahadur Dangi](https://diginpl.com/people/chandra-bahadur-dangi)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Chanira Bajracharya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanira_Bajracharya) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikipedia (Nepali): चनिरा बज्राचार्य](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q27978687](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27978687) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Chanira Bajracharya by Sandra Mu (cropped).jpg by Sintegrity (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chanira_Bajracharya_by_Sandra_Mu_(cropped).jpg)
- [Wikipedia (English), revision used for cited facts: Chanira Bajracharya](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chanira_Bajracharya&oldid=1383708453) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [bbc.co.uk: Nepal's living goddess who still has to do homework (2014-06-18)](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27885141)
- [kathmandupost.com: The untold story of a Kumari’s mental well-being](https://kathmandupost.com/art-culture/2024/11/16/the-untold-story-of-a-kumari-s-mental-well-being)
- [npr.org: The Very Strange Life Of Nepal's Child Goddess (2015-08-28)](https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/05/28/410074105/the-very-strange-life-of-nepals-child-goddess)
- [The New York Times: Ex-Goddess Works to Reform 700-Year Tradition. Her M.B.A. Helps. (15 July 2022)](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/world/asia/nepal-kumari-living-goddess.html)
- [theguardian.com: Nepal's earthquake forces 'living goddess' to break decades of seclusion (2015-07-20)](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/20/nepals-earthquake-forces-living-goddess-to-break-decades-of-seclusion)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Chanira Bajracharya, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Chanira Bajracharya by Sandra Mu (cropped).jpg — Sintegrity, CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Chanira Bajracharya". DigiNepal. Last updated 5 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/chanira-bajracharya. Retrieved 8 November 2026.