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Educational Travelogue Film “Hindu Holiday” 46404 (1937)

1937 · Short film · 8 min

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Synopsis

1937 EDUCATIONAL TRAVELOGUE FILM “HINDU HOLIDAY” This film takes viewers to India in the 1930’s for the traditional festival called Dussehra. The film is narrated by Don Beddoe (:14) and it enters India through the temple gates (:25). Buildings which are over 1,500 years old are shown with intricate architecture (:31). A close up shot shows sacred animals, gods and goddesses along the walls (1:58). A pool sits adjacent to the temple which had been used by an east Indian prince and his thousand wives (1:20). Inhabitants today are seen washing up prior to the holiday occasion (1:25). Dussehra is held annually in October (1:31). Market stalls are seen overloaded with dates, figs and other products as civilians run through out to make final preparations for the event (1:54). Mendicant priests are pictured with face paintings and jewelry (2:17). The holy bull called Nandi is seen as devout pass under it (2:28) and plant a kiss on it as they pray for strength and vitality (2:32). The streetways are decorated with flowers, tapestries and flags as pedestrians walk through in costume (2:39). A great lamp feast is enacted to celebrate the God Krishna’s victory over a demon (2:53). A woman lights a lamp over the sacred elephant’s trunk (2:57). Nuts and silver coins are set at the elephant’s feet (3:02) and the decorated animal is seen walking out (3:05). Crowds fill the palace of the Maharaja which rules over a territory of 300,000 square miles (3:22). The Maharaja and his tall…

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Running time
8 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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