Holy plunge inspires Swiss filmmakers

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Two years before the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, filmmakers Philipp Eyer and Jonas Scheu travelled to Gaumukh, the source of the Ganges. They were deeply touched to see the deep devotion of the pilgrims. “It was very impressive to see the millions of pilgrims coming from all over India, gathering to take a bath in the Ganges,” recalls Jonas.

This experience made the two decide to come back to India to shoot a 55-minute long documentary Amrit Nectar of Immortality — A Journey to the Kumbh Mela. Shot in 2010 in Haridwar, the film tells the stories of the pilgrims, ascetics, yogis, emigrants from the West, scientists and environmental activists who visit the place and their connection with the holy river.
The film features people like Siddhartha Krishna who lived in Switzerland before his father, Prabhupada Acharya Surya, a yogi, decided that he should become a monk and study holy Hindu scriptures.
Narmada Puri, another protagonist in the film, came from Germany in 70s when she was just 24 years old. “Narmada since then hasn’t returned to her homeland and lives in an ashram. And Siddhartha now teaches at Institute of Vedantic Research and Studies,” says Philipp.
However, they insist that it was quite difficult to shoot under what they call ‘unusual circumstances’ for two months. The duo nearly everyday took a dip in the Ganges, which was most refreshing, they add.