Projects‘Kumbh – The Nectar of Faith’
The film ‘Kumbh – The Nectar of Faith’ (with English subtitles) and ‘Kumbh- Asthake Amrit mein Snan’ (Hindi) was made by the ICH Division with filmmaker Himanshu Joshi. It was officially released during the INTACH Governing Council meeting held at the India International Centre (IIC) on 29th July, 2021. It has since won:
1) Winner – World Film Carnival, Singapore, 2021
2) Best Short Documentary – Pápa International Historical Film Festival, 2022
3) Best Short Documentary – Europe Film Festival, 2021
4) Jury Winner- Best Short Documentary- Halicarnassus Film Festival, 2021
5)Finalist – Fiorenzo Serra Film Festival, 2021
6) Semi Finalist – Mumbai Indie Film Festival, 2021
The film looks at the ethos of the MahaParv Kumbh. Inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, this event witnesses the largest peaceful gathering of devotees in the world, embodying the true spirit of inclusiveness. They congregate to four locations in India at the designated six-year cycle (Ardh Kumbh) or the twelve- year cycle (Maha Kumbh) with a single purpose—a dip in the Nectar of Faith.
What draws them in multitudes to this festival and what does the Kumbh signify metaphorically? What is the importance of the River Ganga in relation to the Kumbh? What place do these two elements hold in the tenets of Sanatan Dharma?The film explores these questions and more in a fascinating narrative that is woven by seers from different ascetic orders—Junapethadheeshwar Acharya MahaMandaleshwar Swami AvadheshanadGiri Ji Maharaj, Acharya Mahamandeleshwar Swami KailashanandGiri Ji Maharaj of Shri PanchNiranjaniAkhada, Jagad Guru Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj, Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati Ji of the Divine Shakti Foundation, Acharya Mahamandeleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi of the KinnarAkhada, as well as devotees and scholars.
The YouTube links to the films are
https://youtu.be/Y70ls2BJK4k (English subtitles)
https://youtu.be/VyUTD-ekh8U (Hindi)
