Naked In Ashes : A Documentary Film About Indian Yogis

"Naked in Ashes" is a documentary film about the Yogis of India and their mystical way of life.

In India, there are an estimated 13 million yogis who follow a path of devotion and self-sacrifice. They live on the fringes of society and practice solitude and meditation. In this beautifully photographed documentary, Paula Fouce interviews nearly twenty of these holy men — the only woman is an English speaking German who lives a simple life in her guru's special place.

There are many paths to God in Hinduism, and after watching this documentary we realize how these yogis connect with many elements in Western spirituality. There is an emphasis on the body as a spiritual vessel that can become attuned through yoga. Death cannot be avoided: it is a helpful daily practice to confront the impermanence of all things. Since we come to earth with nothing and leave with nothing, it is helpful to live a simple life and to travel lightly. Solitude, meditation and saying a mantra are practices that bring us closer to contentment. When we give food to someone in need, it is helpful to think that we have given God something to eat. In other words, all charity is part of our devotional activity.

The final segment of Naked in Ashes centers on the Kumbh Mela festival in Ujjain, India, which is held every twelfth year. Here many of the yogis are overtaken with joy as they take off all their clothes and bathe in the river Ganges.