The Dedication Day Ceremony of the New Temple - The Vivekananda Vedanta Society - Chicago 1966
Identifier
F.2013-01-0043
Date Of Production
1966
Abstract
"This documentary film by Larry Janiak and Steve Rose records the day-long ceremonies during the dedication of the new Vivekananda Vedanta Society Temple in Chicago. Many Ramakrishna Order Swamis from other centers in the United States from India were in attendance for the special ceremonies. The "Homa" fire service and the "Arati" chanting worship service are included in the film. The soundtrack is Indian raga music and Vedic chanting." — Larry Janiak
Description
This film is a documentary of the dedication of the Vedanta Society's new temple in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood in September 1966. Begins with a shot of the exterior of the building, located on South Hyde Park Boulevard, with the sun rising behind it. Inside, we see Swami Bhashyananda (leader of the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago at that time) leading a morning service. The footage of the service and other ceremonies of the day is intimate, with close-up views of all of the activity of the puja: flowers placed in vases, burning incense, food offerings, the quiet ringing of bells, texts that are being read, and the faces of the participants. According to the narration, many of the participants at the dedication were leaders from other branches of the Vedanta Society: from San Francisco, Hollywood, St. Louis, Seattle, New York, and Boston. About 5 minutes from the end, musicians begin to play on the sitar and dilruba, and the camera drifts through the space, taking in images of status, woodwork, photographs, and flowers, as those assembled begin to walk to the back yard of the building for a big buffet reception. The camera keeps drifting, over the heads of the people, over the tables of food and the candles, drinks in hands, the textures of midcentury dress fabric, and people waiting their turn for the punch bowl.
Run Time
24 min 48 sec
Format
16mm
Extent
900 feet
Color
B&W
Sound
Optical
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Print
Genre
Form
Subject
Related Collections
Related Places
Main Credits
Janiak, Larry (is filmmaker)
Rose, Stephen (is filmmaker)
Participants And Performers
Bhashyananda, Swami (is participant)
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