Short Cut to Nirvana: Kumbh Mela

Greetings again from the darkness. My knowledge of the Kumbh Mela was limited to only what I had seen on CNN. Co-filmmakers Maurizio Benazzo and Nick Day offer a documentary that gives us more than an insider's view. We often feel as if we are trespassing, or at a minimum, actually in attendance. This Hindu spiritual festival is held every 12 years and climaxes in a Holy river bathing routine as the planets align. Estimates of attendance reach as high as 70 million people. The organization and structure of the event is fascinating as numerous "camps" are built, each around their particular guru. Many of these appear to be circus sideshows, while others are more serious spiritual leaders.

Nick Day held a brief Q&A after our screening and I was very interested to find out that they stumbled upon the charismatic Swami who guides us through this maze of worshipers, gurus and onlookers. This Swami is the driving force of the film and prevents any semblance of routine documentary blandness from reaching the viewer. Although lacking in true spiritual enlightenment, the film provides a unique, front row seat to this extremely interesting event. The influence of the western world to this traditional event is beyond question, but much of the old world religion survives and even thrives. See this one for the glimpse inside a world we rarely get the opportunity to see.