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.