This silent black and white travelogue film “Mystic India” was produced by Castle Films in 1942 as part of its “The World Parade” documentary series. It opens at Benares (also known as Varanasi, Banaras, and Kashi), a city on the banks of the Ganges River. Both are considered sacred, and the city is considered the holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism. The river is shown full of people praying and washing away their sins, according to the film (:39-1:46). Delhi is the capital [the name was changed to New Delhi in 1927]. Both people and cows walk down the street (1:47-2:24). Along the street, women shake grain to sift it, coffee is poured, and produce weighed (2:25-2:53). Fakirs are religious monks who live solely on alms. One is shown smoking and laying on a small couch in the street (2:54-3:12). A snake charmer uses his pungi to hypnotize a cobra (3:13-3:40). The streets in Puri are crowded (3:41-3:57). People pull a juggernaut into the Jagannath Temple carrying religious statues as part of the Ratha Yatra, or chariot procession. A towering one is pulled through the street (3:58-5:00). The Palace of the Maharaja of Baroda was home to Maharajah Pratapsingh Rao Gaekwad , shown in his office and in a carriage pulled by oxen (5:01-6:00). A seated band plays for two women dancing (6:01-6:30). The Maharaja and the Maharani, his wife, leave the palace in their gold carriage, accompanied by men on horseback (6:31-7:14). A line of Palace elephants are shown wearing hats, saddle cloths, and decorative face painting (7:15-7:40). After dinner, a decorated elephant takes puffs on a smoking pipe (7:41-8:13). A ceremonial procession passes by, including the royal family riding in a howdah on an elephant (8:14-8:48). The Taj Mahal stands majestically at Agra. It was completed in 1650 by Emperor Shah Jehan to house the tomb of his favorite wife. A view at fountain level is shown, with the Taj Mahal reflected in the water (8:49-9:55).

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