This year (2024), the ICH Division embarked on a significant project, producing a one-hour documentary film titled ‘Ganga: A Love Beyond Reason’, which delves into the rich cultural heritage of key, yet lesser-known intangible cultural heritage aspects of districts spanning Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
The film captures and documents these unique domains of ICH, showcasing the special cultural treasures and traditions along the Ganga River. These include indigenous knowledge systems, folklore, performing arts, oral history, fairs, festivals, crafts, and more. The documentary features:
● Archaeological Sites and Historicity: Exploration of ancient sites and their historical context; Historians/Archaeologists perspectives ● Stakeholders/Cultural practitioners’ perspectives ● Pothi System: Traditional genealogy registers of Haridwar and Garhmukteshwar ● Block Printing: Techniques of the Sadh community ● Tabla Gharana of Farrukhabad: A distinguished school of tabla music ● Kajri of Mirzapur: Traditional folk music ● Carpet and Brassware industry of Mirzapur ● Varanasi Aarti: The lesser-known aspects of the iconic worship ritual at the Ghats of Varanasi ● Zari and Zardozi of Chandauli: Detailed embroidery styles ● Manjusha Art: A traditional art form ● Bhagalpuri weaving and sarees ● Foodways: Culinary traditions along the Ganga River, in places like Kannauj, Varanasi, and Farukkhabad, among others, as well as the sweets of Kolkata ● Boatmaking: Traditional boat craftsmanship
‘Ganga: A Love Beyond Reason’ not only highlights these cultural practices but also emphasizes their significance and the urgent need for their documentation and preservation. On the occasion of Ganga Dusshera, the film was screened in the multipurpose hall of INTACH, Delhi, and received much appreciation from the viewers present. The film has been uploaded on the following INTACH YouTube channel for a broader reach.
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.
On the occasion of the
International Day of Yoga, the ICH Division of INTACH organized a Facebook live
talk on ‘Integral Yoga: The holistic solution to the present situation’ by Dr
Shruti Nada Poddar. Dr Shruti Nada Poddar is a Spiritual Teacher, Vibrational
Healer, musician and poet. She is the INTACH Shekhawati Chapter Convenor.
Yoga is India’s greatest gift of health and wellbeing to the world. On the
celebratory occasion of International Day of Yoga, the integral and
holistic approach to Yoga and various aspects of yogic practice that we may
adopt in our daily lives for physical and mental wellbeing and empowerment were
explored.
This revelatory Yogic Session, which provided solutions for personal wellbeing in the current crisis, was organized by INTACH on Sunday, 21st June 2020, at 4.00 pm (IST). The talk was followed by a session where the speaker addressed a few questions that participants had on the topic.
Planning by Smt. Dr. C. T. Misra (Member Secretary, INTACH)
Directed by Smt. Nirupama Modwell (Director, ICH Division)
Concept by Dr. Dipendra Sharma (Convener, INTACH Dhar Chapter)
India is a land of festivals and festivities. In the month of Falgun according to the Indian calendar, around the beginning of the Vasant Ritu or the Spring Season throughout India the vermilion flowers of Palash start to bloom and kindles the festive spirit of the Indian people. Blooming in abundance in the hills forests and a few even in the cities announce the arrival of the colourful festival of Holi. This beautiful Holi song is sung by Harindra Dasondi. He was a Barot, a highly talented bard who belonged to Rajpipla State. Fortunately we could get this song from the personal archives of Maharani Rukmini Devi of Rajpipla. This 1967 All India Radio Broadcast was recorded by her on a spool. This is a part of the Intangible Heritage which we could luckily preserve.
The division of Intangible Cultural Heritage,INTACH & Happy Hands Foundation organized a series of month long workshops, titled “Art Pitara” at the Multipurpose Hall,INTACH. The Summer series of the workshop were conducted from 26th May to 26th June, 2014 and the winter series was conducted from 15th December,2014 to 14th January, 2015.
Karkidaka Theyyam: Documentation by INTACH Kasargod Chapter.
Theyyam is a ritual form of worship from North Malabar in Kerela synthesizing ritual, vocal and instrumental music, dance painting, sculpture and literature. The performers of Theyyam belong to the lower caste community and have an important position in Theyyam. There are approximately 400 types of Theyyam.
An Intangible Cultural Heritage project of INTACH ( Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage)
Concept, Research and Presentation : Sudhir K. Sharma, Convenor, Rohtak Chapter, INTACH
The Jogis beside being singers are also healers and therapists who claim to cure and ward off many diseases by magical practices. People still visit the jogis for ailments such as jaundice, migraine, stomachache, boils and many more.
