Why give cameras to the female ascetics of Juna Akhara?
Most anyone familiar with yoga, mediation, Kumbh Mela, Juna Akhara or Hindu Ascetics in general know what is a “naga baba”, few know what is a mai (a female ascetic) or that they even exist in the first place. The “Her-Story” Video Production Program gives voice to the female ascetics of Juna Akhara, those often overshadowed by their naked and ash covered brothers, empowering them to share with the world their own stories of what lead them on this path and what they found once they embarked upon it.
“Her-Story” Video Production Program takes place during the off-season, the three years in between the occurrences of the Kumbh Mela, while the babas are back to leading their normal lives. Whether home at their ashrams or traveling around the country, these selected women get the opportunity to learn the basics of video production: photography / video camera use (including gaining further understanding about composition, various camera angles and movements), audio recording and story structure, in order to competently share their own personally chosen stories through multimedia.
Through documentary exploration (to commence after the Haridwar Kumbh Mela in 2010), these women will be given the skills to share with the world their personal and cultural her-stories of what led them on this path, what they found once they embarked upon it, and most importantly, what knowledge they have gained through their experiences. Giving cameras to these women will also empower them to voice any obstacles they face today, negotiating the modern “Western” world in attempts to maintain their traditions and spiritual practice (especially that of worshiping nature); as well as their independence as women within a still male dominated organization and culture. This project also sets out to enlighten (1. Western audiences enthused, entranced and perhaps deluded by both consumerism and Eastern / Hindu and Yoga / Mediation culture; as well as 2. Audiences from other cultures whose women stereotypically play a smaller role in society), about the ancient traditions past down through generations of guru / shisha relationships; and the strength, resilience and accomplishments of these independent women, who have been greatly overshadowed by the nagas, their naked and ash covered guru brothers; all the while dispelling the many stereotypes of rural Indian and Nepali women, as well as those that have been attached to their organization (Juna Akhara) by mainstream and foreign media coverage during the hectic festival frenzy of the Kumbh Mela.
Documentary Production Methodology:
I’m interested in following in line with their traditional guru (teacher) / shisha (student) relationship style for teaching (media). “Each One, Teach One”, (along several ashram tours & / pilgrimage treks), passing the camera around, one sadhvi shooting another sadhvi’s story, while teaching that sadhvi to later shoot someone else’s, in pursuit of exploring the following:
1. What led these women to choose this path vs. traditional householder lifestyles?
2. What is it like for them in a predominantly male dominated religious order?
3. What are some of the struggles and triumphs in choosing to be a sanyasini?
