尼泊爾的古老傳統庫瑪麗
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, still keeps one of their traditions to this day.
尼泊爾首都加德滿都直到現在都還保有一項古老傳統。
preserve(v.)保存(習俗、傳統等)
A priest chooses a three to seven-year-old girl to be the living goddess for everyone to worship. This living goddess is the “Kumari”, which means princess.
由祭司從3到7歲的女童中選出一位活女神供眾人膜拜，這位活女神即是「庫瑪麗」，「庫瑪麗」是公主的意思。
priest(n.)祭司、神職人員worship(v.)敬神、拜神、崇拜
Not everyone can be a Kumari, as the qualifications for being one are very strict.
庫瑪麗不是人人都能當，挑選庫瑪麗的標準非常嚴苛。
qualification(v.)資格;條件
The girl not only has to be a virgin, but also has to have an astrological sign beneficial to the king. She can never have bled before or gotten sick, and she must have an unblemished body.
不僅需為處女之身，出生時星象要有利於國王，甚至必須從未流過血或生過病，身上也不能有斑點胎記等等。
astrological sign 星座beneficial to~對...有利bleed-bled-bled流血unblemished (adj.)(名聲等)無瑕疵的、無污點的=flawless=pure
She must meet the criteria of 32 divine characteristics and maintain them until she is dethroned.
她需符合32種優美特徵，並維持到退位。
criterion(n.)(作為評判的)標準 複數型criteriadethroned(adj.)退位的
Being worshiped by all people is very honorable, but at the same time really lonely.
成為萬眾景仰的庫瑪麗極端榮耀卻也非常孤獨。
honorable(adj.)值得尊敬的;品德高尚的
The girl must stay in the temple alone. Her feet must not touch the ground and must be carried on a sedan chair.
女孩必須獨自一人居住在寺廟中，不能雙足碰地，需以神轎代步。
sedan chair轎子
With everyone watching, she is not allowed to show any expression that may cause bad luck.
在眾人面前也不能顯露出任何會造成不幸的表情。
(facial) expression表情
It is tough for the Kumari to return to normal life, as she was isolated from society and education and may sometimes even need to learn how to walk again.
因為長時間與社會脫節與未受教育，當庫瑪麗退位回到現實生活中會非常痛苦，甚至需重新學習走路。
isolated(adj.)被孤立的、孤獨的
It is too hard a path returning to society, and the title of goddess is but a memory after being dethroned.
回歸常人生活的過程太過艱辛，女神稱號也只會成為記憶中的一段印記。
but(adv.)只是=only=just=merely
The respect that comes with being a Kumari cannot balance out the unimaginable loneliness.
庫瑪麗至所受到的尊崇無法抵銷她們無人能體會的孤寂。
balance out抵銷;使平衡redeem(v.)彌補;補救;抵消unimaginable(adj.)無法想像的=inconceivable
Even though they have been chosen from millions of children, it is sad to see them sacrifice a simple happy life.
雖然他們是萬中選一的女神，但同時也付出了代價，失去平凡簡單的幸福，不免令人感到惋惜。
even though即使;雖然sacrifice(v.)犧牲、獻出