Kumbh Mela - The Greatest Show On Earth

2013 "The Greatest Show On Earth"
Kumbh Mela - The Greatest Show On Earth
7.5| 1h0m| en| More Info
Released: 30 July 2013 Released
Producted By: BBC
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Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b037w0xc
Synopsis

February 2013, Allahabad, India. Over the next 55 days, nearly a hundred million people will come here, to the Great Kumbh Mela. This incredible and awe-inspiring celebration of the world's oldest religion happens every 12 years at the place where Hindus believe two sacred rivers meet. For many Hindus this is their most important pilgrimage, and it happens at one of the most holy sites in India. Hindus come to cleanse themselves in the sacred waters of the river Ganges, to pray and emerge purified and renewed. This follows British pilgrims as they embark on a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey. A journey that will take them into the heart of Hinduism - its philosophy, its beliefs and its traditions. A journey that will culminate in the largest ever gathering of humans in one place.

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hegde-rachana99 The documentary explores the philosophies, beliefs and traditions of the Hindus who gather for the Kumbh Mela. There are multiple interviews with Hindus of different backgrounds. These Hindus share their perspective on this great gathering and its significance to them. Throughout the documentary, the camera focuses on various people so that we can get a sense of their beliefs and cultural values. There are clear distinctions between the way that different people view the celebration and this allows the audience to form unbiased opinion of the Kumbh Mela.The filming for the documentary is on location which lends to its authenticity and allows the audience to really see Indian culture. The cinematographic decisions allow the audience to easily follow along but also to feel like they are also experiencing this pilgrimage.As a Hindu, watching this film gave me more perspective on my religion. I feel like I was exposed to a part of my religion which is not necessarily less mainstream but still different from what I'm used to. It helped me to understand just how important Hinduism is to many Indians. I also realized the shortcomings in the strength of my own faith as I realized that I probably couldn't take a dip in the Ganges like those British pilgrims in the documentary. However, I also realized that faith manifests itself in different forms and plays different roles in each person's life/lives.