You go, goddess

Normally, I’m a by-the-book guy. But every now and then, you have to cut somebody some slack. That’s why I’m applauding the Nepalese authorities who have agreed to review their decision to strip a 10-year-old girl of her title of “living goddess” by breaking tradition and traveling overseas.

As you’ve heard a thousand times by now, Sajani Shakya journeyed to the United States last month to promote a documentary about, well, the centuries-old tradition of Nepal’s living goddesses.

What the heck did you think she would promote, the benefits of throwing a curve ball in the dirt when you’re ahead in the count? For gosh sakes, she’s a living goddess in Nepal, and she’s only 10!

Anyhow, that’s a no-no in Nepal. If you’re a living goddess, you can’t leave the country — even though I personally would think that a living goddess could do anything she darned well pleased. Hey, what part of “living goddess” don’t you get?

Fortunately, cooler heads may prevail in the mile-high kingdom scrinched between India and China.

Jaiprasad Regmi, chief of the government trust that oversees the living goddesses, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying, “We are consulting with elders, priests and culture experts on whether it was appropriate for the living goddess to break tradition and leave on a trip.”

Right on, Mr. Regmi!

I’m sure that being a living goddess is fun and all that, but sometimes you want a break from the same old same old. And as you well know, being a living goddess is not a piece of cake.

Again I refer you to the Associated Press:

“Living goddesses are worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists. The girls are selected between the ages of 2 and 4 after going through several tests.

“They are required to have perfect skin, hair, eyes and teeth, and should not be afraid of the dark. They wear red, pin up their hair in topknots and have a ‘third eye’ painted on their forehead.

“Devotees touch the girls’ feet with their foreheads, the highest sign of respect among Hindus in Nepal.”

I don’t know about you, but after being worshipped endlessly, I think I’d want a change of scenery.

Apparently, the head honchos in Nepal are thinking of restoring Sajani’s title because thousands of her followers were cheesed off. Who says you can’t fight City Hall anymore?

Why can't we just pretend the whole thing never happened?

Look, living goddesses have to relinquish their titles anyway when they reach puberty. It’s tough being told you’re over the hill when you’re 12.

Let’s not give the girl any more grief.

… Now if you want to pass around a petition asking Queen Elizabeth to step down, count me in.