Baby with two faces hailed as goddess

Updated 09.53 Wed Apr 09 2008

Keywords: baby, Hindu goddess, India, two faces, Lali

A baby born with two faces in an Indian village is being hailed as a Hindu goddess.

Lali was born with a very rare condition called craniofacial duplication which means she has one head but has two identical faces merged together.

Lali's father Vinod Singh, 23, said his daughter was fine "like any other child"

The little girl has two noses, two pairs of lips and four eyes. The only facial feature that has not been duplicated are her ears.

Despite the condition often being linked to other serious health complications, Lali's father Vinod Singh, 23, said his daughter was fine "like any other child".

Hospital officials said Lali could use both mouths and she opened and shut both pair of her eyes at the same time.

Lali has attracted intense attention, with hundreds of people flocking to the dusty village of Saini Sunpura to catch a glimpse of her unique features.

Rural India is deeply superstitious and the little girl is being worshipped as the reincarnation of the Hindu goddess of valour, Durga, a fiery deity traditionally depicted with three eyes and many arms.

Visitors have been touching Lali's feet out of respect and offering money in a bid to receive blessings.

Village chief Daulat Ram said he planned to build a temple to Durga in the village and ask the government for money to help with Lali's care.

Lali's parents were married in February 2007. Lali is their first child.