The Juna Akhara Documentary Project is an ongoing project to create a series of short videos about and by the Ascetics of Juna Akhara themselves. Videos range in subject matter from personal self portraits to pilgrimage places, from their various sadhanas (spriitual practices) to their various philosophies, from sanskar (initiation rites) to samadhi (funeral rites), all according to the video maker’s ideas.
All contributing video makers are supported with equipment and training as needed.
Produced & Edited by Nicole Jaquis in association with relativelyLocal, Projectile Arts and Juna Akhara.
Directed, Shot & Assistant Edited by the Ascetics of Juna Akhara.
Status: Currently in Production
Expected world premiere release date: the 2013 Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad
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 them to choose this path vs. traditional householder lifestyles?
2. The Akhara system: from initiation, to lineage, to elections; Ashram / Spiritual Life; austere vs. wealthy / luxurious lifestyles; careers abandoned or pursued; previous families/friends abandoned; & performing one’s own funeral rites as initiation into this new family structure.
3. For what benefit do they do their spiritual practice? What are they learning, of which we in the West should also be aware; what can they teach us?
4. How does one negotiate current man made environmental issues with their worshiping and attempting to live in accordance with nature?
