Kataragama: A God for All Seasons

Synopsis: Looks at the help which Singhalese of all religions in Sri Lanka, including Buddhists, Hindus, Moslems and Christians, are increasingly seeking from Kataragama, an ancient Hindu god. Once a year there is a festival for Kataragama at his central shrine in the jungle of south-east Sri Lanka. While some of the traditional gods are no longer seen as very important, more people than ever now come to Kataragama for help with examinations, promotion and other problems. At the festival almost every activity - dancing, shaving the head, piercing the tongue and cheeks with needles, fire-walking - is an act of payment for a favour received from Kataragama. Deals in detail with procedures used by a family whose 11-year-old son had disappeared 18 months earlier, and who were trying to secure his safe return.
Series: Disappearing World, Series
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Film; Video; Film. 16mm sd. col. 52 min. Videocassette. VHS. col. 52 min.
Technical information: Black-and-white / Sound
Year of production: 1973
Availability: Hire (film - RAI)
Sale (video - RAI, Granada); 2005 sale: £50.00 (+VAT +p&p) (RAI)
Notes: Broadcast on ITV 20/11/73.
Subjects: Anthropology; Religious studies
Keywords: Hinduism; religious festivals; Sri Lanka

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