Taaza Khabar: Manju Reporting on Sati
Director: Bishakha Datta; Cinematographer: Ranu Ghosh
Duration: 00:13:56; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 44.201; Saturation: 0.104; Lightness: 0.398; Volume: 0.236; Cuts per Minute: 4.664
Summary: Part of the footage of the film Taaza Khabar directed by Bishakha Datta and produced by Nirantar. The film is about the journey of a team of all women journalists of Khabar Lahariya (a grassroots newspaper published by the women themselves) through several obstacles. The determined efforts are to ensure the 62nd issue of Khabar Lahariya reaches its readers on time. The women are from Chitrakoot district in U.P. who report stories that find no space in mainstream media. It also portrays how these women have created their own space and established their identity in a context where patriarchy and caste-based discriminations are dominant. In this event, one of the Khabar Lahariya journalists, Manju, covers the story behind the Sati Anusuya temple in Chitrakoot.
Women, temple, pictures, painting, shop, street, money, religion, song
Folk songs play in the background while the exterior of a building with a statue fills the screen. A faint spiritual speech in English is also heard along with the songs. Village women shop for religious items and pose with one of their purchases. They are keen to buy items and negotiate the price with the shopkeeper. The whole street is lined with small shops selling religious items.
Karwi, Chitrakoot
A young child at the shop watches television listlessly. As the music continues, closeups of various pictures depicting stories from the Hindu religion show a rich and colorful lineup of art.
Male devotees show their respects outside the temple sounding the bell, after which they bow down and prostrate. Many devotees climb the steps to enter the temple.
men, devotees, bell, bow, prostrate, river, ring, respect, steps, temple,
television, child, shopkeeper, chain, bangles, bindi, saint, Hindu, color, items, spiritual, buy
Sati, Anusuya, service, devotees, husband, ritual, pooja, worship
Manju, one of the Khabar Lahariya journalists, covers the story of Chitrakoot's Sati Anasuya temple. [Sati refers to a woman who is extremely devoted to her husband. Anusuya was a very pious and devoted wife, and hence is revered as "Sati Anusuya" - the chaste wife. The Sati Anusuya ashram is located in the Chitrakoot district of UP, which is further upstream the Mandakini River, 16 km from the town, set amidst thick forests.]
Manju tries to give her report several times in front of the camera, before finally getting it right. She reports about the story of Anusuya and how, due to her devotion to her husband is known as Sati Anusuya today. Thousands of devotees come every year to perform pooja [Pooja is a religious ritual performed by Hindus as an offering to various deities]
Manju relaxes herself at the river, washing her legs and freshening up her face. The water flows over rocks, the sound of which is pleasant to the ears and the sight of which is pleasing to the eye.
water, river, wash, leg, face, rock, trees, forest
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