The world of religions with its large and small secrets offers a lot of scope for discovery. Faith has many faces and, in its concrete forms, leads to very different ways of life. In the Faszination Faith series we get to know the exciting world of the five major religions. We visit impressive temples and magnificent churches – the houses of faith. And we accompany people who leave no stone unturned to shape their lives according to God’s will.

Just marry for love? Rather unusual for Hindus. More important than love is a common caste you belong to or the right horoscope. If both are missing, a wedding is almost impossible. Most marriages in India are arranged because Hindu life is determined by the class system of caste – and by faith. In the world’s oldest religion, people pray to a whopping 300 million gods. Cows and elephants are also sacred to them. Hindus follow countless rules when practicing their faith, including donating traditional offerings such as coconuts, flowers and bananas. We are introduced to the principles of faith according to which death is the beginning of a journey, a journey into a new body, into a new life.

We meet Chinna Battar, the chief priest of the Meenakshi Temple and a member of the highest caste, the Brahmins. This spiritual position was given to him by his father and he himself will later pass it on to his son. The social order provides other tasks for members of the lowest caste: Hari Key, for example, looks after the dead, who are considered unclean by the Hindus. And we immerse ourselves in the spiritual world of Hinduism by taking part in a trance session of the Selvi believers, which is visited every Friday evening by the god Karpaswami, who takes possession of them to speak to those seeking advice.

Initiative: Marita Neher
Director: Marita Neher
Editorial Staff: Linde Dehner (ZDF/arte)
Production: Andrea Ufer
Station: ZDF/arte

– Episode 1 – Casablanca: Die Moschee von Hassan II
– Episode 2 – Yangon: Die Shwedagon-Pagode
– Episode 3 – Budapest: Die Dohány-Synagoge
– Episode 4 – Madurai: Der Meenakshi-Tempel
– Episode 5 – Mailand – Der Dom St. Maria Nascente