Prostitutes of God
6.90
Ratings: 6.90/10 from 50
users.
In Prostitutes of God, VICE travels deep into the remote villages and towns of Southern India to uncover an ancient system of religious sex slavery dating back to the 6th century.
Although the practice was made illegal more than 20 years ago, we discover there are still more than 23,000 women in the state of Karnataka selling their bodies in the name of the mysterious Hindu Goddess Yellamma.
They are known as Devadasis, or servants of God. From city red light districts to rural mud huts, we meet proud brothel madams, HIV positive teenage prostitutes, and gay men in saris.
Our intimate exploration into the life of the Devadasi reveals a pseudo-religious system that exploits poverty-stricken families to fuel modern India’s booming sex trade.
what a horrible horrific life...JESUS weeps and wept
it' was not prostitution,,,girls played the same roles...as NUN's playing in churches....don't fools persons in the name of religion...
I want vice to go to Benin City, Nigeria. This same practice goes on where girls are dedicated to the Olukun goddess who is believed to be a prostitute herself. Each deficated girl has a pot and a waist band.
Devadasi system prostitution has nothing to do with religion though the name of religion is used. This documentary is not fit to be among the documentary films relating to religion.
In the documentary, Sarah Harris travels to the Indian city of Sangli to interview women whom are prostitutes in the name of their Hindu Goddess Yellemma. In this documentary, we see that most prostitutes that are interviewed live in communities and are actually financially well off. The documentary then unravels and teaches of the religious practice of Devadasi and how it became a prostitution practice. In addition, Harris goes to the annual full moon festival in Saundatti, where viewers get a glimpse of child sex trafficking. The festival is supposed to celebrate the initiation of a Devadasi devotee, however, the age average of Devadasi initiatives are decreasing. The documentary concludes with the ultimate problems that this Devadasi/prostitution system causes, such as AIDS and forced sex labor. I felt that this documentary helped gives a solid understanding to the historical background of the Devadasi and a justifiable modern context of the religion.
Vice makes interesting documentaries, for me this is one of those I would say, despite not watching most of it
I couldn't watch this one, looking at two underage kids, so lovely, speaking about thr lives and knowing they are used for sex by adults, is too
much for me. But then I've been sitting at my pc for far too long
soaking up way too much of the world's issues for my health, way too
late at night. Lost control.. I'm an information junky, and a pc-aholic, and I'm glad I don't own a tv aswell.
First of all, a documentary of good quality can be felt with no exaggeration. I'm from southern part of India. It is true that this practice was a part of Hindu tradition but it is abolished to great extent. The modern Hinduism do not support it in any manner and such superstitions are forced on people belongs to lower(considered) caste. To take privilege of these people, such system were built by the so called high caste priests.
They'll never know the possibilities of the girls if they don't go to school. Many fine doctors, scientist, etc are being lost.
Thank you, for this documentary if a country doesn't have a functioning society in terms of business, corporations or education this will become reality. Hopefully, Americans will try to defend their country at all cost because if we don't we may be forced to sell our boys & girls just for bread on the table.
I am not here to argue or discuss about God.. The above Video is all about a small village in Karnataka, India.. not only karnataka, even another 1 or 2 states. 23000 is way to exaggerated number. Few hundreds fit appropriately. Con-men and women in all the countries, irrespective of the religions. What you are seeing in that video is brain-washed people/followers of some con-men. In India, this is not a legal practice. Devadasis existed many centuries before as legal form of prostitution. That also to protect and balance the immoral acts and the culture of the people. If you look deep into our culture, you can find why these devadasis were existed. Prostitution is illegal in India, not just since 20 years, its beyond that. This is Nothing to do with Goddess Yellamma or Renuka. They are using the God's name for their profession to get validity. I DON'T BELIEVE IN THESE GODS OR CON-MEN.. I dispute their existence. I wont believe in these Gods, if I dont feel them.. Until, I don't waste my time on these Godly claims. But I am a supporter of Culture. I am from India, precisely southern part of India.
not true......i think the documentary maker should not blame other religion. if u understand hindu, please try to analyse this was badly used by some cruel people or rich people to target the poor and disadvantaged and uneducated people. dont blame our religion. please.
I was about to watch this when I click play and I see a caucasian woman not from india narrating this.. No thanks! Why do they use their priveledge to did dirt about anothers culture but their own. Go film your own country.. So annoying!
Many Westerners hold Eastern philosophical wisdom in high esteem and here is a culture that has been in practice long enough to have found perfection as a society but instead you find abject poverty and a caste system together creates a justification to use these poor females. It is apparent that the first casualty of Eastern philosophy and wisdom is truth.
Y was standing next to 'so what' when Mr 'who cares' walked in
An example of virtuelessness
This is stupid
This makes me angry
I had no idea this sort of thing was revered in India, I learned something new today
That was disturbing, how could they pimp out their own daughters!? It gave me the creeps and made me want to cry for the little girls who have no choice in all this. My youngest sister is their age, I can't even begin to imagine selling your family off to pedophiles for a few bucks. Why doesn't the mothers of these girls prostitute themselves? Surely as a mother, if someone in the family had to suffer to provide, you'd do it instead of your 12 year old child!!! Even collecting garbage, cleaning sewers and cleaning homes are preferable to being a devadasis.
And the real culprits are the men who continue to drive demand for devadasis! I hate it say it but as long as there are horny men with a few rupees, there will be devadasis. Shame on you sickos who prey on poor children!
Absolutely disgusting
This is ancient religion and we proud on our religion and culture. Garve se kao hum Hindu hain.
All I can say is WHY do they ignore a dog that is obviously IN PAIN....Yet they worship rats and cows? I just don't understand. Of course, "hookers" are looked down on in the US. Even though the highest paid people in the world are mostly a bunch of damn pedophile's! That force sex on children. Sicko fks!
Unbelievably disgusting , horrific .
What a disgusting country is India really .
They call it an economic giant : an economic giant with the feet body & soul in that horrific dirt .
I have always been amazed at the fact that many orientalists used to praise the indian religions, philosophies ...when we do consider that outragoeus cast system ....all that hokus pokus ....
God....
West hordes most of the world's resources. Sees people living in huts turn to prostitution. Wags finger condescendingly.
Don't worry, devadasi, free market will fix you.