A LOCAL family will feature in a major documentary screening as part of the Compass series on ABC television this weekend.
Entitled The Holy Dip, the program follows the Turner family from Comboyne and two other Australian families who made the pilgrimage to the Maha Kumbh Mela Hindu bathing festival in India, where they plunged into a world-record crowd of 30 million taking their holy dip in India’s sacred Ganges River.
Andrew Turner first made the pilgrimage when a young backpacker 24 years ago. While there, he made a vow to one day come back, build a boat and ferry pilgrims around the Sacred River. He did just that, this time accompanied by his wife and their family of four. At the end of the trip they sold the boat and also donated the proceeds to a local school.
The festival is one of the most ancient religious events on earth and each family has a different reason for wanting to go:
* The Misras want their adult children to reconnect with traditional Indian culture.
* Pushpa Choudhari wants her teenagers to experience the holy dip amidst unbelievable crowds, as she did when growing up in Allahabad.
Each family fulfils their dream and while doing so reflects deeply on the spirit of modern Hinduism in this ancient holy festival.
Andrew’s wife Ginny told the Independent the experience was transformational.
“When I say transformational, not in terms of religion but our perception of the world,” Ginny said.
“It was an adventure with all the elements that come with adventure. We even had some sickness and it was quite intense at times, but the people of India were really generous and tolerant, which was amazing.”
Presented by Geraldine Doogue, the Compass series explores the interface between religion and life as experienced by individuals and communities.
Compass screens every Sunday night at 6.30pm and The Holy Dip episode featuring the Turner family will go to air this Sunday 23 March.
