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Living Embodiment of Hindu God | The Story of God


[dramatic music]
MORGAN FREEMAN (VOICEOVER): I’m about to have
an audience with a living embodiment
of the Hindu god, Taleju.
My hope is that their Kumari remains expressionless.
Even the hint of a smile is said to bring misfortune.
[mystical music]
MORGAN FREEMAN: She didn’t–
she didn’t smile.
As a matter of fact, she didn’t have an expression at all.
MAN: OK.
So that’s good for me, right? MAN: That’s a good thing.
That’s a good thing.
MORGAN FREEMAN: All right.
And I also noticed that her feet were up on a little–
a little platform.
MAN: Pedestal, yes.
So while she is the Kumari, she should not touch the Earth.
And so she will be carried around.
MORGAN FREEMAN: I see.
OK.
MAN: And so she gets carried around in a palanquin–
MORGAN FREEMAN: Yeah.
MAN: –even when she has to go to festivals
and to attend to other rituals in the city.
MORGAN FREEMAN (VOICEOVER): This royal treatment
isn’t required merely out of respect for the divine.
It avoids her receiving cuts to her feet.
If she bleeds, she ceases to be a goddess.
Of course, that day can only be put off so long.
With the onset of puberty, this young girl
must return to a way of life that may now be alien to her.
It seemed like this would be kind of a rough deal for a kid.
It is a rough deal for a kid.
But I think in this part of the world, you know,
we are constantly reminded about our duty.
Yes.
MAN: And so in the years to come then
people take great pride in the fact
that she was able to serve our community
by taking on this duty.
MORGAN FREEMAN: And after she’s no longer a–
MAN: Right.
–goddess, what is she?
You know, once she reaches puberty,
then the community begins to search for a second child who
will replace her.
She enters the regular family and I think–
She becomes just a regular–
A regular girl.
Got it.
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