Sacred Wonders (2019): Season 1, Episode 2 - Djennes, Great Mosque in Mali - full transcript
♪
MANY OF THE WORLD'S
BEST-KNOWN LANDMARKS
HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY FAITH,
AND TODAY MORE WORSHIPPERS
THAN EVER ARE FLOCKING
TO THESE SACRED PLACES,
BUT WHY DO THEY CONTINUE
TO PROVOKE SUCH PASSION?
HUNDREDS OF YEARS
AFTER THEY WERE FIRST BUILT,
MANY OF THEM REMAIN PLACES
OF DEEP SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
AND CONTROVERSY.
FOR SOME PEOPLE,
THEY ARE SANCTUARIES
FOR QUIET CONTEMPLATION.
FOR OTHERS, THEY ARE SITES
OF ASTONISHING ACTS OF WORSHIP,
DANGEROUS CHALLENGES, AND
EXTRAORDINARY DEEDS OF DEVOTION
RARELY SEEN BY OUTSIDERS.
THIS TIME, AT THE GREAT MOSQUE
OF DJENNE IN MALI,
A YOUNG MUSLIM RACES
TO PROTECT IT FROM THE ELEMENTS
IN THE HOPE OF A PLACE
IN PARADISE.
AT SACRED NACHI WATERFALL
IN JAPAN,
A SHINTO DEVOTEE UNDERTAKES
A GRUELING CHALLENGE
TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING
OF HIS COUNTRY,
AND AT THE CATHEDRAL
OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE
IN NEW YORK,
AN EPISCOPAL PRIEST PERFORMS
AN ASTONISHING CEREMONY
TO BRING PEOPLE CLOSER TO GOD.
IN THIS SERIES,
WE REVEAL THE AMAZING THINGS
THAT PEOPLE DO
FOR THEIR FAITH
IN SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR
SACRED PLACES ON THE PLANET.
♪
MANY SACRED WONDERS
HAVE STOOD FOR CENTURIES,
BUT IN WESTERN AFRICA,
ONE UNIQUE RELIGIOUS MONUMENT
IS IN CONSTANT DANGER
OF COLLAPSE...
♪
THE GREAT MOSQUE IN MALI
AT THE HEART OF THE CITY
OF DJENNE,
A VAST, TIMBER-FRAME BUILDING
WITH WALLS UP TO
TWO FEET THICK MADE OF MUD.
BUILT AT THE CROSSROADS OF ONE
OF THE ANCIENT TRADE ROUTES
IN WEST AFRICA, THE MOSQUE
HAS STOOD ON THIS SITE
SINCE THE 13th CENTURY.
IT IS THE LARGEST
MUD BUILDING ON EARTH,
AND FOR THE 20,000 PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN THIS MUD-BUILT CITY,
IT IS THE FOCAL POINT OF BOTH
THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAITH...
♪
BUT UNLESS THE MOSQUE
IS GIVEN A NEW COVERING
OF MUD EVERY YEAR, IT WILL
SIMPLY CRUMBLE TO DUST.
♪
SUNNI MUSLIM
BABER DJENNEPO
IS ONE OF THE MASONS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING IT.
♪
THEIR MOSQUE
ISN'T JUST A PLACE TO PRAY.
IT'S THE HEART
OF THE COMMUNITY...
SOMEWHERE TO MEET, STUDY, AND
CELEBRATE RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS.
FOR BABER AND THE OTHER MASONS,
LOOKING AFTER THE GREAT MOSQUE
IS A MAJOR UNDERTAKING
REQUIRING SKILLS
THAT BABER LEARNED
FROM HIS FATHER.
♪
THE MASONS' PROBLEM
IS THAT OVER THE YEAR
IN THE INTENSE HEAT OF THE SUN,
THE MOSQUE'S WALLS CRACK,
AND WHEN THE RAINS COME,
THEY BEGIN TO WASH AWAY.
♪
WITH THE WET SEASON
ONLY A FEW WEEKS FROM NOW,
IT'S TIME TO GIVE IT
A NEW LAYER OF MUD.
TOMORROW THE ENTIRE MOSQUE
WILL BE REPLASTERED
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM,
BUT TO COMPLETE THIS HUGE TASK,
THE WHOLE TOWN
NEEDS TO TAKE PART.
ACCORDING
TO THE ISLAMIC TRADITION,
ANYBODY WHO HELPS BUILD
OR REPAIR A MOSQUE
WILL HAVE AN EASIER PATH
TO PARADISE,
AND THE ANNUAL REPLASTERING
IS CONSIDERED A VITAL WAY
TO BRING THE COMMUNITY
TOGETHER,
SO TODAY THEY'VE GATHERED TO
PRAY BEFORE THEY GET TO WORK.
THE FIRST STEP
IS TO COLLECT ALL THE MUD.
♪
3 WEEKS AGO,
THE TOWNSPEOPLE DUG PITS
IN THE RIVER BED AND MIXED
THE MUD WITH RICE HUSKS.
♪
THE HUSKS FERMENT,
MAKING THE MUD MORE VISCOUS
AND BETTER FOR WATERPROOFING
THE MOSQUE'S WALLS.
♪
NOW ALL THE MUD NEEDS
TO BE TAKEN UP TO THE MOSQUE,
READY FOR TOMORROW.
BABER SPENDS HIS
EVENING LIKE EVERY OTHER...
TEACHING THE QURAN
TO HIS 5 CHILDREN.
MUSLIM CHILDREN
ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN
AS MUCH OF IT
AS THEY CAN BY HEART...
BUT WITH THE BIG DAY
AHEAD OF HIM,
BABER'S GOT ANOTHER THING
ON HIS MIND, AS WELL.
THE CENTRAL MINARET
IS THE HIGHEST PART
OF THE MOSQUE,
AND THE MORNING CALL TO PRAYER
IS MADE FROM HERE.
IN DJENNE, THE MASON
WHO REPLASTERS THE VERY TOP
GAINS MUCH FAME
AND PRESTIGE...
♪
BUT THAT HONOR MUST BE EARNED,
AND IT GOES TO THE ONE
WHO CLIMBS THE MINARET FIRST.
♪
5 A.M.
THE CROWDS ARE WAITING
FOR THE SENIOR MASONS
TO ANNOUNCE THE START
OF THE REPLASTERING...
BUT THE RIVALRY
TO COVER THE CENTRAL MINARET
IS SO FIERCE,
SOME OF THE YOUNGER MASONS
DECIDE NOT TO WAIT.
BABER IS CAUGHT BY SURPRISE.
HE NEEDS TO MOVE FAST.
♪
EVERYONE GATHERS
TO WATCH THE RACE.
♪
AGAINST ALL THE ODDS,
BABER OVERTAKES THE OTHERS
AND IS FIRST TO REACH THE TOP.
DRIVEN BY HIS COMMITMENT
TO HIS MOSQUE,
HE'S SUCCEEDED ONCE AGAIN.
TEAMS OF MUD CARRIERS
NOW RUSH INTO ACTION
TO KEEP THE MASONS SUPPLIED
WITH FRESH MUD
FOR THE REST OF THE DAY,
AND AS DAY BREAKS,
BABER GETS TO WORK.
HIS REPUTATION IS SAFE
FOR ANOTHER YEAR...
BUT THE MINARET'S
JUST THE START.
NOW THEY HAVE TO TACKLE
THE REST OF THE MOSQUE.
THE MORE
EACH PERSON COVERS,
THE MORE SPIRITUAL CREDITS
THEY BELIEVE THEY'LL RECEIVE...
♪
BUT THEIR TASK
IS NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT'S ONLY 8 A.M.,
AND IT'S ALREADY 86 DEGREES,
AND AT THESE TEMPERATURES,
THE MUD WILL QUICKLY BECOME
TOO DRY TO SPREAD,
SO WHILE THE WOMEN CARRY WATER
UP FROM THE RIVER
TO KEEP THE MUD WET,
THE MEN TAKE ON DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE MOSQUE.
BABER'S FATHER
HAS COME TO SEE
HOW HIS SON'S DOING.
♪
THEY'RE MAKING
GOOD PROGRESS.
THE ROOF IS THE LAST SECTION
TO BE TACKLED.
♪
SO MANY MUD CARRIERS ARE COMING
DOWN THE NARROW STAIRWELL,
THE WATER CARRIERS
ARE STRUGGLING
TO GET UP TO THE ROOF...
♪
BUT BEFORE THE MUD CAN DRY OUT,
THEY BREAK THROUGH...
♪
AND IN ONE LAST PUSH,
THE ROOF IS COMPLETED.
♪
BABER
IS THE LAST MASON TO LEAVE,
AND WITH A FINAL
HANDFUL OF MUD,
THE MOSQUE IS PROTECTED
FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
♪
THE IMAM FROM
THE MOSQUE BLESSES EVERYONE
WHO TOOK PART.
♪
♪
JUST LIKE
THE GREAT MOSQUE OF DJENNE,
MOST SACRED WONDERS
ARE MANMADE.
♪
AT THE DUOMO,
THE CATHEDRAL IN FLORENCE,
MASONS HAD TO LAY
4 MILLION BRICKS
JUST TO COMPLETE THE DOME...
♪
AND THE SHWEDAGON PAGODA
IN MYANMAR
IS COVERED IN OVER 20,000
SOLID GOLD TILES
DONATED BY MONARCHS
AND DEVOTEES
OVER THE LAST 500 YEARS...
♪
BUT NOT ALL WONDERS
ARE CRAFTED BY HAND.
FOR ONE, IN SOUTHWESTERN JAPAN,
IT'S THE LANDSCAPE ITSELF
THAT IS SACRED.
♪
NACHI FALLS.
AT 436 FEET, IT'S JAPAN'S
TALLEST UNBROKEN WATERFALL.
♪
SHINTO IS ONE
OF THE MAIN FAITHS IN JAPAN
AND IS THOUGHT TO DATE BACK
TO PREHISTORIC TIMES.
ITS DEVOTEES BELIEVE
THAT SPIRIT DEITIES
KNOWN AS KAMI
INHABIT EVERY PART OF NATURE,
FROM ROCKS TO RIVERS TO TREES.
THERE ARE THOUGHT TO BE
COUNTLESS KAMI IN JAPAN,
AND NACHI WATERFALL IS BELIEVED
TO BE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL.
EVERY YEAR, THIS WATERFALL
IS THE SITE
OF AN EXTRAORDINARY CEREMONY
WHICH FOLLOWERS OF SHINTO
BELIEVE IS VITAL TO ENSURING
THE WELL-BEING OF ALL JAPAN.
SHINTO DEVOTEE CHIKARA MURAI
WILL BE TAKING PART.
HE'S WORSHIPPED HERE
SINCE HE WAS A BOY.
THE WATERFALL
IS SACRED TO BOTH BUDDHISTS
AND FOLLOWERS OF SHINTO,
AND OVER THE CENTURIES,
A COMPLEX OF TEMPLES
AND SHRINES HAS GROWN UP
BY THE FALLS.
CHIKARA WORKS IN A NEARBY TOWN
AS A GOVERNMENT CLERK.
WHEN HE ARRIVES TO PRAY,
HE CLAPS
TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION
OF THE KAMI.
APART FROM THE KAMI
OF THE WATERFALL,
DEVOTEES BELIEVE
THERE ARE 12 OTHERS
THAT LIVE HERE IN THE SHRINE.
IF THESE KAMI ARE ENERGIZED,
IT'S BELIEVED JAPAN
WILL HAVE A PROSPEROUS YEAR,
AND TO ENSURE THIS, TOMORROW
CHIKARA IS GOING TO UNDERTAKE
A GRUELING CHALLENGE.
♪
HE IS GOING TO HELP
THE KAMI OF THE SHRINE
MAKE A CRUCIAL,
ANNUAL VISIT TO THE WATERFALL,
BUT THE PATH TO THE FALLS
IS A STEEP,
2,000-FOOT-LONG STAIRCASE
DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDE,
AND BEFORE THE KAMI
CAN PASS ALONG IT,
IT MUST BE PURIFIED
WITH FIRE.
THAT'S DONE WITH GIGANTIC,
FLAMING TORCHES.
UNTIL NOW,
CHIKARA HAS BEEN
AN ASSISTANT TORCH BEARER
FOR HIS BROTHER,
BUT THIS YEAR,
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
CHIKARA HAS BEEN
GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE
OF BEING
A TORCH BEARER HIMSELF.
♪
IT'S THE DAY
BEFORE THE FESTIVAL
AND THE FIRST CHANCE
CHIKARA'S HAD
TO TRY CARRYING
ONE OF THE UNLIT TORCHES.
♪
IT WEIGHS 110 POUNDS.
CHIKARA HIMSELF WEIGHS
JUST 20 POUNDS MORE.
DURING THE CEREMONY,
CHIKARA WILL HAVE TO CARRY
THE TORCH UNTIL
THE CHIEF TORCH BEARER DECIDES
THE ROUTE HAS BEEN SUFFICIENTLY
PURIFIED.
♪
TO GET IN SHAPE, CHIKARA'S
BEEN TRAINING FOR MONTHS,
RUNNING UP AND DOWN
A STAIRCASE
LIKE THE ONE
HE WILL BE PURIFYING.
♪
IT WILL BE A TEST
OF BOTH CHIKARA'S STRENGTH
AND FAITH.
♪
IT'S THE MORNING
OF THE FIRE FESTIVAL.
LIKE EVERY DAY, THE PRIEST
CONDUCTS A CEREMONY
TO HONOR THE SACRED FALLS.
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER JAPAN
HAVE COME TO WATCH
THE KAMI OF THE SHRINE
MAKE THEIR JOURNEY.
♪
IT'S TIME FOR CHIKARA TO PUT ON
THE TORCH BEARER'S
SACRED ROBES.
♪
THE KAMI
WILL BE TAKEN TO THE FALLS
IN SPECIALLY BUILT CARRIERS.
ONCE THE KAMI IS ON
BOARD, THE CARRIER IS RAISED,
AND THEIR JOURNEY
TO THE SACRED FALLS CAN BEGIN.
MEANWHILE,
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEPS,
THE FIRE CEREMONY
GETS UNDER WAY.
♪
CHIKARA AND THE TEAM
OF TORCH BEARERS HAVE TO GO
UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS,
BUT THEY DON'T KNOW IN ADVANCE
HOW MANY TIMES
THEY WILL NEED
TO REPEAT THE LOOP.
♪
THEY WORK IN PAIRS...
ONE TO CARRY THE TORCH
AND ONE TO TRY AND CONTROL THE
FIRE BY SPRAYING WATER ON IT.
♪
THE LOOSE PIECES OF BURNING
WOOD HAVE TO BE KNOCKED OFF...
♪
WHICH MEANS CHIKARA
MUST KEEP LIFTING
THE HEAVY TORCH BACK UP.
♪
THE CARRIERS HAVE NOW ARRIVED
AT THE TOP OF THE PATH.
♪
THE TORCH BEARERS HAVE ALREADY
BEEN UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS
5 TIMES, AND SOME OF THEM
ARE BEGINNING TO STRUGGLE,
INCLUDING CHIKARA.
♪
CHIKARA SWAPS
WITH HIS ASSISTANT
FOR A FEW MOMENTS.
♪
THEN HE'S BACK AT IT.
♪
AT LAST, THE CHIEF
TORCH BEARER DECLARES
THAT THE ROUTE
HAS BEEN CLEANSED,
AND FINALLY, THE KAMI CAN BE
TAKEN TO THE SACRED FALLS.
FOR CHIKARA, IT'S THE END
OF AN EXHAUSTING BUT HAPPY DAY.
♪
THE KAMI OF THE SHRINE,
RE-ENERGIZED BY THEIR VISIT,
ARE TAKEN BACK TO THEIR HOME,
WHERE, IT'S BELIEVED,
THEY'LL KEEP JAPAN PROSPEROUS
FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
♪
IN MANY PARTS OF THE
WORLD, SACRED WONDERS ARE IN
REMOTE AND INACCESSIBLE PLACES,
IDEAL FOR QUIET CONTEMPLATION.
THE TIGER'S NEST IN BHUTAN
WAS BUILT ON THE LEDGE
WHERE A GURU IS SAID TO HAVE
MEDITATED FOR OVER 3 YEARS,
AND WHEN
THE MONASTERIES OF METEORA
WERE FIRST BUILT IN GREECE,
PEOPLE COULD ONLY REACH THEM
BY BEING WINCHED UP IN NETS,
BUT DURING TIMES
OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION,
THEIR LOCATION
IS ALSO ABOUT DEFENSE.
♪
ONE SUCH WONDER
IS OVER 2,000 YEARS OLD
AND NOW LIES IN RUINS,
AND YET IT REMAINS
A PLACE OF EXTRAORDINARY
SIGNIFICANCE TO JEWS
BECAUSE OF AN EVENT THAT
TOOK PLACE HERE DURING ROMAN TIMES.
♪
MASADA... A MOUNTAIN FORTRESS
RISING SHEER FROM
THE JUDEAN DESERT IN ISRAEL
AND HOME TO THE REMAINS OF ONE
OF THE OLDEST KNOWN SYNAGOGUES
ON THE PLANET.
MASADA WAS WHERE THE PALACE
OF KING HEROD STOOD
IN THE TIME OF JESUS.
MANY BELIEVE THAT THIS FORT
IS WHERE THE JEWS
MADE THEIR LAST STAND
AGAINST ROMAN INVADERS
IN THE FIRST CENTURY.
AFTER MONTHS OF SIEGE,
THESE REBELS CHOSE DEATH
RATHER THAN GIVE UP
THEIR FAITH.
♪
TODAY MASADA IS ONE OF THE MOST
VISITED RELIGIOUS SITES
IN ISRAEL, AND IT'S SO SYMBOLIC
THAT JEWISH PEOPLE
TRAVEL HERE
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
♪
13-YEAR-OLD MIA
AND 12-YEAR-OLD JACOB ZARETSKY
LIVE ALMOST 6,000 MILES
FROM MASADA
IN A QUIET NEW JERSEY SUBURB.
♪
ONE WEEK FROM NOW,
THEY'LL BE TRAVELING TO ISRAEL
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THEY'RE GOING TO MASADA
FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT
RELIGIOUS RITE OF PASSAGE
FOR ANY YOUNG JEW...
THE BAR MITZVAH.
GOOD SHOT.
JACOB, VOICE-OVER: ISRAEL IS
THE MOST JEWISH PLACE FOR JEWS.
IN THE WORLD
YOU CAN FIND.
IT'S WHERE
EVERYTHING STARTED.
THEIR PARENTS,
CRAIG AND LISA, HAVE INVITED
THE EXTENDED FAMILY OVER TO
CELEBRATE THE UPCOMING TRIP.
L'CHAIM.
HA HA HA!
THE BAT MITZVAH FOR A
GIRL AND BAR MITZVAH FOR A BOY
IS THE POINT AT WHICH
JEWISH CHILDREN BECOME ADULTS
IN THE EYES OF THEIR FAITH.
JACOB AND MIA KNOW HOW MUCH
IT MEANS TO THEIR PARENTS...
MIA, VOICE-OVER: THINK IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM
THAT, LIKE, WE GET BAR
AND BAT MITZVAH'D
IN AN EXTREMELY
HOLY PLACE.
THEY'RE GONNA
BE HAPPY
BECAUSE THEY'RE
GONNA BE PROUD.
THAT'S WHAT'S
GONNA MAKE THEM
PROBABLY
GET EMOTIONAL.
BUT THE TRIP BRINGS
WITH IT A HUGE CHALLENGE.
AT THE CEREMONY,
EACH OF THEM MUST READ
A LONG PASSAGE
OF HEBREW SCRIPTURE...
ALL RIGHT.
THAT WAS A VERY GOOD PACE.
BUT NEITHER OF THEM
SPEAKS NOR UNDERSTANDS HEBREW.
THEY HAVE BEEN STUDYING HARD
FOR ALMOST A YEAR.
TODAY IS THE LAST LESSON
WITH THEIR TUTOR
BEFORE THEY GO.
YEAH. YOU SOUNDED
GREAT TOGETHER, VERY NICE.
HEBREW SCRIPT IS READ
FROM RIGHT TO LEFT,
AND THEY'VE HAD TO MEMORIZE
HOW TO PRONOUNCE EVERY WORD.
IT'S LIKE TRYING
TO SING A SONG WITH NO TUNE
IN A LANGUAGE
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND...
TRY IT.
AND THEY'LL BE
SINGING IT IN FRONT OF A RABBI
AND 3 GENERATIONS
OF THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY.
JACOB, VOICE-OVER:
I REMEMBER ALL OF IT.
I JUST FEEL LIKE
I'M GONNA GET ANXIOUS.
BOTH OF YOU
SINGING THIS AT MASADA,
MM-HMM.
WOW,
VERY DIFFERENT THAN
AT THE KITCHEN TABLE.
WOW.
THEY'RE BOTH
WORRIED ABOUT HOW IT WILL GO
ON THE DAY.
IF HE FALLS DOWN, I'M JUST
GONNA KEEP ON SINGING.
WE'LL SEE
ABOUT THAT.
WELL, I GOT TO KEEP
THE SERVICE GOING.
I THINK SHE'LL STOP.
I CAN'T JUST LET IT...
I DON'T THINK SHE
WOULD STOP FOR ME,
BUT I THINK SHE
WOULD, LIKE, SLOW DOWN.
I WOULD DO
THE SAME FOR YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
THANKS.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
♪
ISRAEL, ONE WEEK LATER.
♪
YOU GOT THIS?
YES.
THE CEREMONY
IS IN 45 MINUTES,
BUT THERE'S STILL TIME FOR SOME
LAST-MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS.
YOU HAVE TO TALK SLOW.
DON'T RUSH. SAY YOUR PRAYERS.
THERE'S NO FIGHTING,
WHATEVER HAPPENS.
I'M NOT KIDDING.
I'M BEING DEAD SERIOUS, OK?
"ZARETSKYS" ON 3!
1, 2, 3!
ZARETSKYS.
WE GOT TO GO. I LOVE YOU.
♪
MASADA
IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR
BAR MITZVAH SITES IN THE WORLD.
OVER 400 TAKE PLACE HERE
EVERY YEAR.
♪
COME ON THIS SIDE.
MOM,
HERE'S THE PLASTIC.
LAST-MINUTE NERVES
ARE STARTING TO GET TO MIA.
MIA, VOICE-OVER: JUST, LIKE,
FOR ONE SECOND, I JUST, LIKE,
STOPPED PRACTICING, AND I COULD
NOT REMEMBER THE FIRST WORD.
I WAS LIKE, "I'M GONNA MESS UP.
I'M GONNA TO MESS UP.
I'M GONNA TO MESS UP."
♪
THE ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE,
WHICH NOW LIES IN RUINS,
IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN
A STABLE
IN KING HEROD'S PALACE,
BUT WHEN MASADA
WAS UNDER SIEGE,
THE JEWISH REBELS HERE
CONVERTED IT
INTO A PLACE OF WORSHIP,
AND ALMOST 2,000 YEARS LATER,
THE ZARETSKYS TAKE THEIR SEATS
FOR THE CEREMONY.
FIRST, DIFFERENT MEMBERS
OF THE FAMILY
TAKE THEIR TURN TO READ
FROM JEWISH TEXTS...
REMEMBER WORDS
OF SCRIPTURE.
IT IS A LAND
WHERE THE BIBLE...
PRAY WITH
SINCERITY.
INCLUDING
GRANDPA ZARETSKY.
OUR GOD,
I SEEK YOUR GOOD.
NOW IT'S MIA
AND JACOB'S BIG MOMENT.
THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN
PREPARING FOR ALL YEAR...
RECITING THE PASSAGES
FROM THE SACRED TORAH,
JUDAISM'S HOLY SCROLL.
JACOB GOES FIRST.
EXPECTATIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH.
REMEMBERING THE PRONUNCIATION
IS TRICKY ENOUGH...
BUT EACH PHRASE
MUST ALSO BE CHANTED
WITH THE CORRECT UPS AND DOWNS.
GET THE INTONATION WRONG,
AND THE MEANING
CHANGES COMPLETELY.
NO.
♪ AMEN ♪
MAZEL TOV TO JAKE.
YOU CAN BE SEATED.
DESPITE
A FEW STUMBLES,
JACOB MAKES IT THROUGH.
MIA, PLEASE
COME UP.
AS THE ELDEST,
MIA HAS HAD TO LEARN
TWICE AS MUCH AS HER BROTHER.
♪ AMEN ♪
MAZEL TOV TO MIA.
YOU CAN BE SEATED.
IN SPITE OF HER
NERVES, MIA HAS SAILED THROUGH.
MOM AND DAD WOULD
LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU NOW.
NOW LISA AND CRAIG
CAN WELCOME THEIR CHILDREN
INTO ADULTHOOD.
IT'S THE MOMENT
TO SHARE SOMETHING
THEY DON'T OFTEN TALK ABOUT
BECAUSE FOR MIA, THIS HAS BEEN
A DIFFICULT JOURNEY.
MIA, I STRUGGLE TO FIND
THE WORDS THAT COME EVEN CLOSE
TO EXPLAINING THE LOVE
AND ADMIRATION I HAVE FOR YOU.
YOU KEPT TELLING ME YOU
HAD THIS LUMP IN YOUR NECK
AND SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.
MONTH AFTER MONTH, I TOLD YOU,
"YOU'RE FINE. YOU'RE FINE."
THE LUMP WE FOUND
WAS A TUMOR THAT NEEDED
TO BE REMOVED, AND, JUST
LIKE THAT, OUR LIVES CHANGED.
NEVER ONCE DID YOU CRY.
♪
NEVER ONCE
DID YOU COMPLAIN.
AS WE STAND HERE TODAY
AS YOU BECOME A JEWISH WOMAN,
WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR TEACHING US
WHAT IT IS TO BE STRONG.
JACOB...
YOU HAVE BEEN CALLING THE SHOTS
BEFORE YOU ENTERED THIS WORLD.
"FIERY," "DRIVEN,"
"INTENSE," AND "COMPASSIONATE"
ARE WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE YOU.
EVERYONE THAT
MEETS YOU LOVES YOU.
KEEP BEING YOU.
BIG THINGS LIE AHEAD,
AND WE LOVE YOU.
MAZEL TOV.
♪
♪ MAZEL TOV ♪
MAZEL TOV! AH!
THE CEREMONY ENDS
WITH THE THROWING OF CANDY,
AN EXPRESSION OF THE SWEETNESS
OF THE ADULT LIFE
THAT MIA AND JACOB
ARE NOW ENTERING.
♪
I WAS VERY HAPPY
THAT IT WAS OVER WITH
BUT SAD THAT OUR TIME
HERE AT MASADA WAS GONE.
I FEEL THE SAME.
I JUST FEEL LIKE I HAVE
THAT OOMPH IN MY HEAD.
I FEEL
MORE CONFIDENT.
GREAT, THAT'S JUST
WHAT HE NEEDS!
♪
MASADA MAY HAVE
ORIGINALLY PROVIDED
AN UNASSAILABLE SANCTUARY,
BUT MANY SACRED WONDERS
WERE PURPOSE-BUILT TO WELCOME
VAST NUMBERS OF VISITORS.
ST. PETER'S SQUARE
AT THE VATICAN WAS DESIGNED
TO EMBRACE THE LARGE CROWDS
FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD
THAT COME TO HEAR
THE POPE SPEAK,
AND THE LARGEST ANNUAL
GATHERING ON EARTH
IS AT THE SHRINE OF IMAM HUSAYN
IN IRAQ DURING ARBA'EEN.
IT'S MORE THAN TWICE AS BUSY
AS MECCA DURING THE HAJJ,
BUT IN NORTHWEST INDIA,
THERE IS ONE WONDER
THAT GREETS ITS HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPPERS
IN A UNIQUE WAY...
♪
THE GOLDEN TEMPLE.
IN THE BUSTLING CITY
OF AMRITSAR...
♪
A TEMPLE HAS STOOD ON THIS SITE
FOR OVER 400 YEARS,
AND IT WAS REBUILT WITH MARBLE
AND GOLD IN THE 19th CENTURY.
IT'S SURROUNDED BY A HOLY LAKE
KNOWN AS THE POOL OF NECTAR,
AND IT IS THE MOST SACRED PLACE
FOR INDIA'S FOURTH BIGGEST
RELIGION... SIKHISM.
FOUNDED IN THE 16th CENTURY
AS A FOCAL POINT OF WORSHIP
FOR SIKHS, THE TEMPLE
IS OPEN ON ALL 4 SIDES
TO SHOW THAT IT WELCOMES PEOPLE
FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD.
♪
TOMORROW IS THE START
OF THE VAISAKHI FESTIVAL.
NEARLY A QUARTER OF A MILLION
VISITORS A DAY
WILL BE COMING
THROUGH THE GATES,
AND EVERY SINGLE ONE
WILL BE GREETED
WITH A FREE MEAL.
♪
THIS YEAR, TAJINDER SINGH
HAS VOLUNTEERED
TO HELP WITH THIS
COLOSSAL CATERING JOB.
♪
VAISAKHI MARKS
THE TIME, OVER 300 YEARS AGO,
THAT THE SIKH FAITH INITIATED
A BROTHERHOOD OF WARRIOR SAINTS
WHOSE TASK WAS TO PROTECT
THE INNOCENT
FROM RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.
THE TRADITIONS
AND WAY OF LIFE THEY BEGAN
ARE CELEBRATED AT VAISAKHI.
TAJINDER
IS VOLUNTEERING
TO SHOW HIS COMMITMENT
AS A SIKH.
♪
HE'LL BE WORKING IN AN
UNASSUMING, RED-BRICK BUILDING
JUST BEHIND THE GOLDEN TEMPLE.
♪
THIS IS THE LANGAR,
THE TEMPLE'S COMMUNAL KITCHEN.
THE LANGAR EMBODIES
ONE OF THE KEY PRINCIPLES
OF SIKHISM...
THAT EVERYONE IS EQUAL,
SO, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE
OR WHAT YOUR RELIGION,
EVERYBODY WHO SETS FOOT
IN THE GOLDEN TEMPLE IS INVITED
TO SIT AND EAT
ALONGSIDE OTHERS.
TAJINDER HIMSELF EATS HERE
EVERY TIME HE COMES TO PRAY.
ALL THE FOOD SERVED
IS DONATED,
AND MOST OF IT'S COOKED
BY VOLUNTEERS...
♪
BUT TO CATER FOR
ALL THE EXTRA WORSHIPPERS
OVER THE VAISAKHI FESTIVAL,
THE LANGAR NEEDS
THOUSANDS MORE HELPERS,
AND THIS YEAR,
TAJINDER WILL BE AMONG THEM.
THERE'S ONE PROBLEM...
HE'S NO COOK.
HE'S A PHARMACIST
AND A BUSINESSMAN.
AT HOME, IT'S HIS WIFE
AND DAUGHTERS
WHO DO ALL THE COOKING.
TAJINDER RARELY
SO MUCH AS FRIES AN ONION,
AND YET OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS,
HE INTENDS TO HELP
WITH EVERY SINGLE CATERING JOB
AT THE TEMPLE.
♪
4:30 A.M.
THE CROWDS ARE ALREADY
GATHERING TO PAY HOMAGE
TO THE SIKHS' HOLY BOOK...
THE SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB.
♪
EVERY MORNING, IT IS TAKEN
BENEATH A JEWEL-ENCRUSTED CLOTH
FROM ITS OVERNIGHT
RESTING PLACE
TO BE DISPLAYED
IN THE TEMPLE'S INNER SANCTUM.
♪
IN THE LANGAR, TAJINDER'S
TWO-DAY MARATHON BEGINS.
HIS FIRST JOB IS MAKING ROTI,
THE TRADITIONAL FLATBREAD.
THEY MUST MAKE AROUND
250 FLATBREADS EVERY MINUTE
IF THEY'RE NOT TO RUN OUT.
AFTER TAJINDER'S SHIFT
ON THE ROTIS,
THE TASKS COME THICK AND FAST.
♪
THERE ARE NOW
OVER 5,000 PEOPLE PASSING
THROUGH THE LANGAR
EVERY 20 MINUTES...
♪
AND THE DEVOTEES
JUST KEEP COMING.
♪
IN THE KITCHENS,
TAJINDER IS ON TO ONE
OF THE MOST CRUCIAL
JOBS OF ALL...
COOKING LENTIL DAAL.
IT'S THE MAIN INGREDIENT
OF EVERY MEAL
SERVED IN THE LANGAR.
THERE ARE 8 VATS ON THE GO,
AND THERE IS PLENTY OF DAAL
READY WHEN THE DOORS OPEN
FOR THE FIRST
BREAKFAST SITTING...
♪
BUT THEY QUICKLY
HIT A PROBLEM.
TENS OF THOUSANDS
MORE WORSHIPPERS
HAVE TURNED UP THIS YEAR
THAN EXPECTED,
AND THE KITCHENS
ARE RUNNING OUT OF DAAL.
♪
DESPITE THE SURGE,
THE LENTIL TEAM
MANAGES TO CATCH UP...
♪
BUT TAJINDER STILL HAS
ONE MORE TASK
TO COMPLETE... THE WASHING UP.
♪
THE DISHWASHING TEAM
HAS TO SEND THE PLATES BACK OUT
AT A RATE OF 270 PER MINUTE,
OR THE DINING ROOM
WILL GRIND TO A STANDSTILL.
WITH HIS SHIFT
NOW FINISHED,
ANOTHER VOLUNTEER
TAKES HIS PLACE...
♪
AND TAJINDER HAS TIME TO PRAY
IN THE POOL OF NECTAR
AS THE DAY OF VAISAKHI
DRAWS TO AN END.
♪
TAJINDER'S PARENTS
HAVE COME TO JOIN HIM.
♪
IT'S TIME
TO CELEBRATE VAISAKHI.
♪
AS TRAVEL HAS BECOME
EASIER, SOME SACRED WONDERS
HAVE HAD TO ACCOMMODATE
MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER.
THE GRAND MOSQUE IN MECCA
HAS BEEN EXTENDED
IN THE LAST 7 YEARS TO COPE
WITH THE OVER 2 MILLION
VISITORS THAT COME TO WORSHIP
DURING THE HAJJ,
BUT FOR OTHERS,
IT'S HARD TO PULLA CROWD
IN THE 21st CENTURY.
♪
THE CATHEDRAL
OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE,
A SLEEPING GIANT
AMONG THE STREETS
AND SKYSCRAPERS OF MANHATTAN.
♪
ST. JOHN'S IS THE LARGEST
ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL
IN THE WORLD,
ALMOST AS LONG AND HIGH
AS ST. PETER'S BASILICA
AT THE VATICAN IN ROME.
ITS CAVERNOUS INTERIOR
COULD FIT TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS
END TO END AND IS OVERLOOKED
BY ONE OF THE LARGEST
STAINED-GLASS ROSE WINDOWS
IN THE WORLD.
IN THE 19th CENTURY,
IT WAS BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE
A CONGREGATION OF 3,000 PEOPLE,
BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED,
AND FOR THIS CATHEDRAL,
THAT FLOOD OF WORSHIPPERS
HAS TURNED INTO LITTLE MORE
THAN A TRICKLE.
"SIRE, THEY WOULD HAVE
REPENTED LONG AGO."
PATTI WELCH
IS A PRIEST AT ST. JOHN'S.
WELCH, VOICE-OVER:
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 16 YEARS,
AND WE'VE NEVER HAD
A LOT OF NUMBERS
AT OUR LUNCHTIME SERVICES,
BUT THEY HAVE DWINDLED,
AND I'VE SEEN THEM DWINDLE ALSO
AT OUR SUNDAY SERVICES.
THE GIFTS OF GOD
FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
♪
PATTI IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR AN EVENT THAT,
ON AT LEAST ONE DAY
OF THE YEAR,
SEES THE CATHEDRAL
PACKED TO THE RAFTERS.
SHEEPS, GOATS. WE HAVE...
THE SKUNK IS COMING.
OH, I'M
SO GLAD.
I THINK WE HAVE
TO BE VERY CAREFUL
WHERE WE PUT HIM.
TOGETHER
WITH CATHEDRAL MANAGER
LISA SCHUBERT, PATTI IS
ORGANIZING A REMARKABLE EVENT
THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE
IN JUST 24 HOURS.
SO WE'LL PUT
OSCAR IN FRONT.
HE'S ALWAYS VERY
SWEET AS LONG
AS THEY GIVE HIM
LOTS OF LETTUCE,
AND HE LOOKS GOOD
IN HIS GARLAND.
TOMORROW A MENAGERIE
OF OVER A THOUSAND ANIMALS,
ALONG WITH THEIR OWNERS
AND HANDLERS, WILL BE ARRIVING
AT THE CATHEDRAL TO CELEBRATE
THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS,
THE PATRON SAINT OF ANIMALS.
PEOPLE ALWAYS
LOVE TEDDY,
ALTHOUGH HE'S GOT
TERRIBLE BREATH.
SHEEP IS
DONKEY'S FRIEND.
OH, SO THEY LIKE
TO WALK TOGETHER.
YES, AND SHEEP
CALMS DONKEY DOWN.
OK. GREAT.
PATTI'S BEEN MANAGING
THE CEREMONY FOR OVER A DECADE.
NOW, HERE'S THE THING
ABOUT THE GOAT.
THE GOAT BUTTS.
OH, RIGHT.
HE BUTTS
THE LITTLE CHILDREN.
♪
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE
EVENT IS THE GRAND PROCESSION
OF EXOTIC ANIMALS
DOWN THE AISLE TO BE BLESSED
AT THE ALTAR
BY THE BISHOP OF NEW YORK.
WELCH, VOICE-OVER: THOSE
THOUSANDS INCLUDE PEOPLE
THAT MAY NEVER HAVE WALKED
THROUGH THE DOORS
OF THE CATHEDRAL, WOULDN'T FEEL
DRAWN HERE EXCEPT THAT
THEY'RE INVITED TO BRING
THEIR BELOVED PET WITH THEM.
IT'S NOW ONE OF
THE BIGGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR
FOR PATTI, RIVALLING EVEN
CHRISTMAS AND EASTER,
BUT APART FROM BRINGING PEOPLE
INTO THE CATHEDRAL,
PATTI BELIEVES IT ALSO SERVES
AN IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL PURPOSE.
WELCH, VOICE-OVER:
IT'S ABOUT CONNECTING WITH
THESE AMAZING CREATURES THAT
WE INHABIT THIS SPACE WITH,
THAT WE SHARE THIS EARTHLY
PLANE, THIS EARTH WITH,
AND THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR
THEM AND WHAT THEY GIVE TO US.
♪
BUT WITH OVER
A THOUSAND ANIMALS
IN THE CATHEDRAL TOMORROW,
THERE'S NO GUARANTEE
THE CEREMONY WILL GO
ACCORDING TO PLAN.
♪
9 A.M. ON THE FEAST
OF SAINT FRANCIS.
♪
THE SERVICE IS DUE TO START
IN TWO HOURS,
AND ALREADY
LARGE CROWDS ARE BUILDING.
♪
OH, LADY GAGA,
SO BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU,
THANK YOU.
HOW OLD IS MAX?
9 MONTHS.
OH, A PUPPY. HI.
YEAH.
OH, HE'S GORGEOUS.
WHO IN THE WORLD
IS THIS?
MAYBELLE.
HI, MAYBELLE.
IT'S LOOKING TO BE
A COLOSSAL ATTENDANCE.
OVER 2,000 THOUSAND PEOPLE
HAVE ARRIVED SO FAR,
INCLUDING SEVERAL MEMBERS
OF PATTI'S CONGREGATION
PLUS THEIR PETS.
HI, ARCHIE.
HA HA HA!
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
AFTER THE SERVICE,
EVERYONE HERE WILL HAVE
A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR OWN
ANIMALS BLESSED OUTSIDE
BY PATTI, BUT THE MORE
OVEREXCITED PETS
PACKED IN THE PEWS, THE GREATER
THE POTENTIAL FOR PANDEMONIUM.
♪
MEANWHILE,
THE PROCESSION ANIMALS
AND THEIR HANDLERS
ARE ARRIVING.
♪
EVERY YEAR, A LOCAL ANIMAL
SANCTUARY LOANS THEM TO PATTI
FOR THE DAY TO HELP
THE CATHEDRAL WITH FUNDRAISING.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LEAD
ONE OF THESE EXOTIC ANIMALS
UP THE AISLE OR BRING A PET
CAN MAKE A DONATION.
THE MONEY RAISED
FUNDS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY
AND HELPS WITH THE UPKEEP
OF THE CATHEDRAL,
BUT MANY OF THE ANIMALS
REQUIRE CAREFUL HANDLING.
OH, BOA, BOA, BOA.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, BEHIND SHEEP,
AND THEN, BOA, STAY THERE.
IT'S WONDERFUL
TO SEE THE CATHEDRAL FULL
FOR OUR ST. FRANCIS DAY
CELEBRATION,
AND IT IS A MIXTURE
OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS.
11 A.M. THE BISHOP
OF NEW YORK BEGINS THE SERVICE.
♪
PATTI HAS JUST 45 MINUTES LEFT
TO GET ALL THE ANIMALS LINED UP
AND READY TO MOVE OUT ON CUE.
THE MAMA DUCK WITH
THE BABY DUCKS? YES.
PATTI'S ARK
IS TAKING SHAPE...
OSCAR'S GONNA GO
FIRST UP THE RAMP
AND DOWN THE AISLE
FOLLOWED BY CAMEL.
BUT ALL THE ANIMALS
NEED TO BE LINED UP
IN A VERY PARTICULAR ORDER
FOR THE PROCESSION.
WE DON'T WANT BIRDS OF
PREY BEHIND THE BABY DUCKLINGS.
NO.
IF PREDATOR SPECIES
ARE PLACED
NEXT TO POTENTIAL PREY,
THEY COULD ATTACK,
AND LARGE ANIMALS MIGHT KICK
SMALLER ANIMALS BEHIND THEM.
ALL RIGHT, DIANE.
LET'S HEAD DOWN.
THE SERVICE
IS NOW WELL UNDER WAY.
♪
WITH ONLY 30 MINUTES
LEFT TO GO,
ONE OF PATTI'S ANIMAL HANDLERS
HAS FAINTED...
SO WE'RE CALLING 911.
WE'RE LETTING SECURITY KNOW.
BUT THE SHOW
MUST GO ON.
ALL RIGHT.
EVERYBODY LINE UP.
IF YOU'VE GOT ANIMALS,
COME WITH ME.
WE’LL ASK THE CONGREGATION
TO BE SEATED.
FINALLY,
IT'S TIME TO GO.
OPEN THE DOORS.
OPEN THE DOORS.
THE PROCESSION OF ANIMALS
IS BEGINNING NOW.
♪
WELCH, VOICE-OVER: I LOSE SLEEP
OVER WHETHER OR NOT THE ANIMALS
WILL ACTUALLY MAKE IT
ALL THE WAY DOWN
THE MAIN AISLE
OF THE CATHEDRAL.
♪
WHEN THE ANIMALS
ENTER THE NARROW AISLE,
THEY COULD FEEL TRAPPED.
THIS IS THE MOMENT THEY'RE
MOST LIKELY TO PANIC...
♪
BUT THE ANIMALS
REMAIN CALM.
♪
WELCH, VOICE-OVER:
THERE'S THIS QUIET
THAT ENGULFS
THIS AMAZING CATHEDRAL,
THIS HUGE SPACE,
AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE,
THAT MOMENT WHERE I KNOW
EVERYTHING'S IN PLACE
AND IT'S ALL GONNA BE OK.
♪
THE BISHOP BLESSES
THE LAST OF THE ANIMALS.
THE PROCESSION'S POOP SCOOPER
DEALS WITH ONE FINAL ACCIDENT,
AND PATTI CAN BREATHE
ONCE AGAIN.
THE EVENT HAS BEEN A TRIUMPH.
WELCH, VOICE-OVER:
IT'S ALL WORKED OUT AGAIN,
WHICH IS MIRACULOUS.
TO SEE THIS MAGNIFICENT
CATHEDRAL FILLED
AS IT OUGHT TO BE FILLED
EVERY SUNDAY,
THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT,
THAT WE COME TOGETHER
IN THESE MOMENTS
AND THEY'RE SACRED.
♪
MANY OF THE WORLD'S
BEST-KNOWN LANDMARKS
HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY FAITH,
AND TODAY MORE WORSHIPPERS
THAN EVER ARE FLOCKING
TO THESE SACRED PLACES,
BUT WHY DO THEY CONTINUE
TO PROVOKE SUCH PASSION?
HUNDREDS OF YEARS
AFTER THEY WERE FIRST BUILT,
MANY OF THEM REMAIN PLACES
OF DEEP SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
AND CONTROVERSY.
FOR SOME PEOPLE,
THEY ARE SANCTUARIES
FOR QUIET CONTEMPLATION.
FOR OTHERS, THEY ARE SITES
OF ASTONISHING ACTS OF WORSHIP,
DANGEROUS CHALLENGES, AND
EXTRAORDINARY DEEDS OF DEVOTION
RARELY SEEN BY OUTSIDERS.
THIS TIME, AT THE GREAT MOSQUE
OF DJENNE IN MALI,
A YOUNG MUSLIM RACES
TO PROTECT IT FROM THE ELEMENTS
IN THE HOPE OF A PLACE
IN PARADISE.
AT SACRED NACHI WATERFALL
IN JAPAN,
A SHINTO DEVOTEE UNDERTAKES
A GRUELING CHALLENGE
TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING
OF HIS COUNTRY,
AND AT THE CATHEDRAL
OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE
IN NEW YORK,
AN EPISCOPAL PRIEST PERFORMS
AN ASTONISHING CEREMONY
TO BRING PEOPLE CLOSER TO GOD.
IN THIS SERIES,
WE REVEAL THE AMAZING THINGS
THAT PEOPLE DO
FOR THEIR FAITH
IN SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR
SACRED PLACES ON THE PLANET.
♪
MANY SACRED WONDERS
HAVE STOOD FOR CENTURIES,
BUT IN WESTERN AFRICA,
ONE UNIQUE RELIGIOUS MONUMENT
IS IN CONSTANT DANGER
OF COLLAPSE...
♪
THE GREAT MOSQUE IN MALI
AT THE HEART OF THE CITY
OF DJENNE,
A VAST, TIMBER-FRAME BUILDING
WITH WALLS UP TO
TWO FEET THICK MADE OF MUD.
BUILT AT THE CROSSROADS OF ONE
OF THE ANCIENT TRADE ROUTES
IN WEST AFRICA, THE MOSQUE
HAS STOOD ON THIS SITE
SINCE THE 13th CENTURY.
IT IS THE LARGEST
MUD BUILDING ON EARTH,
AND FOR THE 20,000 PEOPLE WHO
LIVE IN THIS MUD-BUILT CITY,
IT IS THE FOCAL POINT OF BOTH
THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAITH...
♪
BUT UNLESS THE MOSQUE
IS GIVEN A NEW COVERING
OF MUD EVERY YEAR, IT WILL
SIMPLY CRUMBLE TO DUST.
♪
SUNNI MUSLIM
BABER DJENNEPO
IS ONE OF THE MASONS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING IT.
♪
THEIR MOSQUE
ISN'T JUST A PLACE TO PRAY.
IT'S THE HEART
OF THE COMMUNITY...
SOMEWHERE TO MEET, STUDY, AND
CELEBRATE RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS.
FOR BABER AND THE OTHER MASONS,
LOOKING AFTER THE GREAT MOSQUE
IS A MAJOR UNDERTAKING
REQUIRING SKILLS
THAT BABER LEARNED
FROM HIS FATHER.
♪
THE MASONS' PROBLEM
IS THAT OVER THE YEAR
IN THE INTENSE HEAT OF THE SUN,
THE MOSQUE'S WALLS CRACK,
AND WHEN THE RAINS COME,
THEY BEGIN TO WASH AWAY.
♪
WITH THE WET SEASON
ONLY A FEW WEEKS FROM NOW,
IT'S TIME TO GIVE IT
A NEW LAYER OF MUD.
TOMORROW THE ENTIRE MOSQUE
WILL BE REPLASTERED
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM,
BUT TO COMPLETE THIS HUGE TASK,
THE WHOLE TOWN
NEEDS TO TAKE PART.
ACCORDING
TO THE ISLAMIC TRADITION,
ANYBODY WHO HELPS BUILD
OR REPAIR A MOSQUE
WILL HAVE AN EASIER PATH
TO PARADISE,
AND THE ANNUAL REPLASTERING
IS CONSIDERED A VITAL WAY
TO BRING THE COMMUNITY
TOGETHER,
SO TODAY THEY'VE GATHERED TO
PRAY BEFORE THEY GET TO WORK.
THE FIRST STEP
IS TO COLLECT ALL THE MUD.
♪
3 WEEKS AGO,
THE TOWNSPEOPLE DUG PITS
IN THE RIVER BED AND MIXED
THE MUD WITH RICE HUSKS.
♪
THE HUSKS FERMENT,
MAKING THE MUD MORE VISCOUS
AND BETTER FOR WATERPROOFING
THE MOSQUE'S WALLS.
♪
NOW ALL THE MUD NEEDS
TO BE TAKEN UP TO THE MOSQUE,
READY FOR TOMORROW.
BABER SPENDS HIS
EVENING LIKE EVERY OTHER...
TEACHING THE QURAN
TO HIS 5 CHILDREN.
MUSLIM CHILDREN
ARE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN
AS MUCH OF IT
AS THEY CAN BY HEART...
BUT WITH THE BIG DAY
AHEAD OF HIM,
BABER'S GOT ANOTHER THING
ON HIS MIND, AS WELL.
THE CENTRAL MINARET
IS THE HIGHEST PART
OF THE MOSQUE,
AND THE MORNING CALL TO PRAYER
IS MADE FROM HERE.
IN DJENNE, THE MASON
WHO REPLASTERS THE VERY TOP
GAINS MUCH FAME
AND PRESTIGE...
♪
BUT THAT HONOR MUST BE EARNED,
AND IT GOES TO THE ONE
WHO CLIMBS THE MINARET FIRST.
♪
5 A.M.
THE CROWDS ARE WAITING
FOR THE SENIOR MASONS
TO ANNOUNCE THE START
OF THE REPLASTERING...
BUT THE RIVALRY
TO COVER THE CENTRAL MINARET
IS SO FIERCE,
SOME OF THE YOUNGER MASONS
DECIDE NOT TO WAIT.
BABER IS CAUGHT BY SURPRISE.
HE NEEDS TO MOVE FAST.
♪
EVERYONE GATHERS
TO WATCH THE RACE.
♪
AGAINST ALL THE ODDS,
BABER OVERTAKES THE OTHERS
AND IS FIRST TO REACH THE TOP.
DRIVEN BY HIS COMMITMENT
TO HIS MOSQUE,
HE'S SUCCEEDED ONCE AGAIN.
TEAMS OF MUD CARRIERS
NOW RUSH INTO ACTION
TO KEEP THE MASONS SUPPLIED
WITH FRESH MUD
FOR THE REST OF THE DAY,
AND AS DAY BREAKS,
BABER GETS TO WORK.
HIS REPUTATION IS SAFE
FOR ANOTHER YEAR...
BUT THE MINARET'S
JUST THE START.
NOW THEY HAVE TO TACKLE
THE REST OF THE MOSQUE.
THE MORE
EACH PERSON COVERS,
THE MORE SPIRITUAL CREDITS
THEY BELIEVE THEY'LL RECEIVE...
♪
BUT THEIR TASK
IS NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT'S ONLY 8 A.M.,
AND IT'S ALREADY 86 DEGREES,
AND AT THESE TEMPERATURES,
THE MUD WILL QUICKLY BECOME
TOO DRY TO SPREAD,
SO WHILE THE WOMEN CARRY WATER
UP FROM THE RIVER
TO KEEP THE MUD WET,
THE MEN TAKE ON DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE MOSQUE.
BABER'S FATHER
HAS COME TO SEE
HOW HIS SON'S DOING.
♪
THEY'RE MAKING
GOOD PROGRESS.
THE ROOF IS THE LAST SECTION
TO BE TACKLED.
♪
SO MANY MUD CARRIERS ARE COMING
DOWN THE NARROW STAIRWELL,
THE WATER CARRIERS
ARE STRUGGLING
TO GET UP TO THE ROOF...
♪
BUT BEFORE THE MUD CAN DRY OUT,
THEY BREAK THROUGH...
♪
AND IN ONE LAST PUSH,
THE ROOF IS COMPLETED.
♪
BABER
IS THE LAST MASON TO LEAVE,
AND WITH A FINAL
HANDFUL OF MUD,
THE MOSQUE IS PROTECTED
FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
♪
THE IMAM FROM
THE MOSQUE BLESSES EVERYONE
WHO TOOK PART.
♪
♪
JUST LIKE
THE GREAT MOSQUE OF DJENNE,
MOST SACRED WONDERS
ARE MANMADE.
♪
AT THE DUOMO,
THE CATHEDRAL IN FLORENCE,
MASONS HAD TO LAY
4 MILLION BRICKS
JUST TO COMPLETE THE DOME...
♪
AND THE SHWEDAGON PAGODA
IN MYANMAR
IS COVERED IN OVER 20,000
SOLID GOLD TILES
DONATED BY MONARCHS
AND DEVOTEES
OVER THE LAST 500 YEARS...
♪
BUT NOT ALL WONDERS
ARE CRAFTED BY HAND.
FOR ONE, IN SOUTHWESTERN JAPAN,
IT'S THE LANDSCAPE ITSELF
THAT IS SACRED.
♪
NACHI FALLS.
AT 436 FEET, IT'S JAPAN'S
TALLEST UNBROKEN WATERFALL.
♪
SHINTO IS ONE
OF THE MAIN FAITHS IN JAPAN
AND IS THOUGHT TO DATE BACK
TO PREHISTORIC TIMES.
ITS DEVOTEES BELIEVE
THAT SPIRIT DEITIES
KNOWN AS KAMI
INHABIT EVERY PART OF NATURE,
FROM ROCKS TO RIVERS TO TREES.
THERE ARE THOUGHT TO BE
COUNTLESS KAMI IN JAPAN,
AND NACHI WATERFALL IS BELIEVED
TO BE ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL.
EVERY YEAR, THIS WATERFALL
IS THE SITE
OF AN EXTRAORDINARY CEREMONY
WHICH FOLLOWERS OF SHINTO
BELIEVE IS VITAL TO ENSURING
THE WELL-BEING OF ALL JAPAN.
SHINTO DEVOTEE CHIKARA MURAI
WILL BE TAKING PART.
HE'S WORSHIPPED HERE
SINCE HE WAS A BOY.
THE WATERFALL
IS SACRED TO BOTH BUDDHISTS
AND FOLLOWERS OF SHINTO,
AND OVER THE CENTURIES,
A COMPLEX OF TEMPLES
AND SHRINES HAS GROWN UP
BY THE FALLS.
CHIKARA WORKS IN A NEARBY TOWN
AS A GOVERNMENT CLERK.
WHEN HE ARRIVES TO PRAY,
HE CLAPS
TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION
OF THE KAMI.
APART FROM THE KAMI
OF THE WATERFALL,
DEVOTEES BELIEVE
THERE ARE 12 OTHERS
THAT LIVE HERE IN THE SHRINE.
IF THESE KAMI ARE ENERGIZED,
IT'S BELIEVED JAPAN
WILL HAVE A PROSPEROUS YEAR,
AND TO ENSURE THIS, TOMORROW
CHIKARA IS GOING TO UNDERTAKE
A GRUELING CHALLENGE.
♪
HE IS GOING TO HELP
THE KAMI OF THE SHRINE
MAKE A CRUCIAL,
ANNUAL VISIT TO THE WATERFALL,
BUT THE PATH TO THE FALLS
IS A STEEP,
2,000-FOOT-LONG STAIRCASE
DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDE,
AND BEFORE THE KAMI
CAN PASS ALONG IT,
IT MUST BE PURIFIED
WITH FIRE.
THAT'S DONE WITH GIGANTIC,
FLAMING TORCHES.
UNTIL NOW,
CHIKARA HAS BEEN
AN ASSISTANT TORCH BEARER
FOR HIS BROTHER,
BUT THIS YEAR,
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
CHIKARA HAS BEEN
GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE
OF BEING
A TORCH BEARER HIMSELF.
♪
IT'S THE DAY
BEFORE THE FESTIVAL
AND THE FIRST CHANCE
CHIKARA'S HAD
TO TRY CARRYING
ONE OF THE UNLIT TORCHES.
♪
IT WEIGHS 110 POUNDS.
CHIKARA HIMSELF WEIGHS
JUST 20 POUNDS MORE.
DURING THE CEREMONY,
CHIKARA WILL HAVE TO CARRY
THE TORCH UNTIL
THE CHIEF TORCH BEARER DECIDES
THE ROUTE HAS BEEN SUFFICIENTLY
PURIFIED.
♪
TO GET IN SHAPE, CHIKARA'S
BEEN TRAINING FOR MONTHS,
RUNNING UP AND DOWN
A STAIRCASE
LIKE THE ONE
HE WILL BE PURIFYING.
♪
IT WILL BE A TEST
OF BOTH CHIKARA'S STRENGTH
AND FAITH.
♪
IT'S THE MORNING
OF THE FIRE FESTIVAL.
LIKE EVERY DAY, THE PRIEST
CONDUCTS A CEREMONY
TO HONOR THE SACRED FALLS.
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER JAPAN
HAVE COME TO WATCH
THE KAMI OF THE SHRINE
MAKE THEIR JOURNEY.
♪
IT'S TIME FOR CHIKARA TO PUT ON
THE TORCH BEARER'S
SACRED ROBES.
♪
THE KAMI
WILL BE TAKEN TO THE FALLS
IN SPECIALLY BUILT CARRIERS.
ONCE THE KAMI IS ON
BOARD, THE CARRIER IS RAISED,
AND THEIR JOURNEY
TO THE SACRED FALLS CAN BEGIN.
MEANWHILE,
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEPS,
THE FIRE CEREMONY
GETS UNDER WAY.
♪
CHIKARA AND THE TEAM
OF TORCH BEARERS HAVE TO GO
UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS,
BUT THEY DON'T KNOW IN ADVANCE
HOW MANY TIMES
THEY WILL NEED
TO REPEAT THE LOOP.
♪
THEY WORK IN PAIRS...
ONE TO CARRY THE TORCH
AND ONE TO TRY AND CONTROL THE
FIRE BY SPRAYING WATER ON IT.
♪
THE LOOSE PIECES OF BURNING
WOOD HAVE TO BE KNOCKED OFF...
♪
WHICH MEANS CHIKARA
MUST KEEP LIFTING
THE HEAVY TORCH BACK UP.
♪
THE CARRIERS HAVE NOW ARRIVED
AT THE TOP OF THE PATH.
♪
THE TORCH BEARERS HAVE ALREADY
BEEN UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS
5 TIMES, AND SOME OF THEM
ARE BEGINNING TO STRUGGLE,
INCLUDING CHIKARA.
♪
CHIKARA SWAPS
WITH HIS ASSISTANT
FOR A FEW MOMENTS.
♪
THEN HE'S BACK AT IT.
♪
AT LAST, THE CHIEF
TORCH BEARER DECLARES
THAT THE ROUTE
HAS BEEN CLEANSED,
AND FINALLY, THE KAMI CAN BE
TAKEN TO THE SACRED FALLS.
FOR CHIKARA, IT'S THE END
OF AN EXHAUSTING BUT HAPPY DAY.
♪
THE KAMI OF THE SHRINE,
RE-ENERGIZED BY THEIR VISIT,
ARE TAKEN BACK TO THEIR HOME,
WHERE, IT'S BELIEVED,
THEY'LL KEEP JAPAN PROSPEROUS
FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
♪
IN MANY PARTS OF THE
WORLD, SACRED WONDERS ARE IN
REMOTE AND INACCESSIBLE PLACES,
IDEAL FOR QUIET CONTEMPLATION.
THE TIGER'S NEST IN BHUTAN
WAS BUILT ON THE LEDGE
WHERE A GURU IS SAID TO HAVE
MEDITATED FOR OVER 3 YEARS,
AND WHEN
THE MONASTERIES OF METEORA
WERE FIRST BUILT IN GREECE,
PEOPLE COULD ONLY REACH THEM
BY BEING WINCHED UP IN NETS,
BUT DURING TIMES
OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION,
THEIR LOCATION
IS ALSO ABOUT DEFENSE.
♪
ONE SUCH WONDER
IS OVER 2,000 YEARS OLD
AND NOW LIES IN RUINS,
AND YET IT REMAINS
A PLACE OF EXTRAORDINARY
SIGNIFICANCE TO JEWS
BECAUSE OF AN EVENT THAT
TOOK PLACE HERE DURING ROMAN TIMES.
♪
MASADA... A MOUNTAIN FORTRESS
RISING SHEER FROM
THE JUDEAN DESERT IN ISRAEL
AND HOME TO THE REMAINS OF ONE
OF THE OLDEST KNOWN SYNAGOGUES
ON THE PLANET.
MASADA WAS WHERE THE PALACE
OF KING HEROD STOOD
IN THE TIME OF JESUS.
MANY BELIEVE THAT THIS FORT
IS WHERE THE JEWS
MADE THEIR LAST STAND
AGAINST ROMAN INVADERS
IN THE FIRST CENTURY.
AFTER MONTHS OF SIEGE,
THESE REBELS CHOSE DEATH
RATHER THAN GIVE UP
THEIR FAITH.
♪
TODAY MASADA IS ONE OF THE MOST
VISITED RELIGIOUS SITES
IN ISRAEL, AND IT'S SO SYMBOLIC
THAT JEWISH PEOPLE
TRAVEL HERE
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
♪
13-YEAR-OLD MIA
AND 12-YEAR-OLD JACOB ZARETSKY
LIVE ALMOST 6,000 MILES
FROM MASADA
IN A QUIET NEW JERSEY SUBURB.
♪
ONE WEEK FROM NOW,
THEY'LL BE TRAVELING TO ISRAEL
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
THEY'RE GOING TO MASADA
FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT
RELIGIOUS RITE OF PASSAGE
FOR ANY YOUNG JEW...
THE BAR MITZVAH.
GOOD SHOT.
JACOB, VOICE-OVER: ISRAEL IS
THE MOST JEWISH PLACE FOR JEWS.
IN THE WORLD
YOU CAN FIND.
IT'S WHERE
EVERYTHING STARTED.
THEIR PARENTS,
CRAIG AND LISA, HAVE INVITED
THE EXTENDED FAMILY OVER TO
CELEBRATE THE UPCOMING TRIP.
L'CHAIM.
HA HA HA!
THE BAT MITZVAH FOR A
GIRL AND BAR MITZVAH FOR A BOY
IS THE POINT AT WHICH
JEWISH CHILDREN BECOME ADULTS
IN THE EYES OF THEIR FAITH.
JACOB AND MIA KNOW HOW MUCH
IT MEANS TO THEIR PARENTS...
MIA, VOICE-OVER: THINK IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM
THAT, LIKE, WE GET BAR
AND BAT MITZVAH'D
IN AN EXTREMELY
HOLY PLACE.
THEY'RE GONNA
BE HAPPY
BECAUSE THEY'RE
GONNA BE PROUD.
THAT'S WHAT'S
GONNA MAKE THEM
PROBABLY
GET EMOTIONAL.
BUT THE TRIP BRINGS
WITH IT A HUGE CHALLENGE.
AT THE CEREMONY,
EACH OF THEM MUST READ
A LONG PASSAGE
OF HEBREW SCRIPTURE...
ALL RIGHT.
THAT WAS A VERY GOOD PACE.
BUT NEITHER OF THEM
SPEAKS NOR UNDERSTANDS HEBREW.
THEY HAVE BEEN STUDYING HARD
FOR ALMOST A YEAR.
TODAY IS THE LAST LESSON
WITH THEIR TUTOR
BEFORE THEY GO.
YEAH. YOU SOUNDED
GREAT TOGETHER, VERY NICE.
HEBREW SCRIPT IS READ
FROM RIGHT TO LEFT,
AND THEY'VE HAD TO MEMORIZE
HOW TO PRONOUNCE EVERY WORD.
IT'S LIKE TRYING
TO SING A SONG WITH NO TUNE
IN A LANGUAGE
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND...
TRY IT.
AND THEY'LL BE
SINGING IT IN FRONT OF A RABBI
AND 3 GENERATIONS
OF THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY.
JACOB, VOICE-OVER:
I REMEMBER ALL OF IT.
I JUST FEEL LIKE
I'M GONNA GET ANXIOUS.
BOTH OF YOU
SINGING THIS AT MASADA,
MM-HMM.
WOW,
VERY DIFFERENT THAN
AT THE KITCHEN TABLE.
WOW.
THEY'RE BOTH
WORRIED ABOUT HOW IT WILL GO
ON THE DAY.
IF HE FALLS DOWN, I'M JUST
GONNA KEEP ON SINGING.
WE'LL SEE
ABOUT THAT.
WELL, I GOT TO KEEP
THE SERVICE GOING.
I THINK SHE'LL STOP.
I CAN'T JUST LET IT...
I DON'T THINK SHE
WOULD STOP FOR ME,
BUT I THINK SHE
WOULD, LIKE, SLOW DOWN.
I WOULD DO
THE SAME FOR YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
THANKS.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
♪
ISRAEL, ONE WEEK LATER.
♪
YOU GOT THIS?
YES.
THE CEREMONY
IS IN 45 MINUTES,
BUT THERE'S STILL TIME FOR SOME
LAST-MINUTE INSTRUCTIONS.
YOU HAVE TO TALK SLOW.
DON'T RUSH. SAY YOUR PRAYERS.
THERE'S NO FIGHTING,
WHATEVER HAPPENS.
I'M NOT KIDDING.
I'M BEING DEAD SERIOUS, OK?
"ZARETSKYS" ON 3!
1, 2, 3!
ZARETSKYS.
WE GOT TO GO. I LOVE YOU.
♪
MASADA
IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR
BAR MITZVAH SITES IN THE WORLD.
OVER 400 TAKE PLACE HERE
EVERY YEAR.
♪
COME ON THIS SIDE.
MOM,
HERE'S THE PLASTIC.
LAST-MINUTE NERVES
ARE STARTING TO GET TO MIA.
MIA, VOICE-OVER: JUST, LIKE,
FOR ONE SECOND, I JUST, LIKE,
STOPPED PRACTICING, AND I COULD
NOT REMEMBER THE FIRST WORD.
I WAS LIKE, "I'M GONNA MESS UP.
I'M GONNA TO MESS UP.
I'M GONNA TO MESS UP."
♪
THE ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE,
WHICH NOW LIES IN RUINS,
IS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN
A STABLE
IN KING HEROD'S PALACE,
BUT WHEN MASADA
WAS UNDER SIEGE,
THE JEWISH REBELS HERE
CONVERTED IT
INTO A PLACE OF WORSHIP,
AND ALMOST 2,000 YEARS LATER,
THE ZARETSKYS TAKE THEIR SEATS
FOR THE CEREMONY.
FIRST, DIFFERENT MEMBERS
OF THE FAMILY
TAKE THEIR TURN TO READ
FROM JEWISH TEXTS...
REMEMBER WORDS
OF SCRIPTURE.
IT IS A LAND
WHERE THE BIBLE...
PRAY WITH
SINCERITY.
INCLUDING
GRANDPA ZARETSKY.
OUR GOD,
I SEEK YOUR GOOD.
NOW IT'S MIA
AND JACOB'S BIG MOMENT.
THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN
PREPARING FOR ALL YEAR...
RECITING THE PASSAGES
FROM THE SACRED TORAH,
JUDAISM'S HOLY SCROLL.
JACOB GOES FIRST.
EXPECTATIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH.
REMEMBERING THE PRONUNCIATION
IS TRICKY ENOUGH...
BUT EACH PHRASE
MUST ALSO BE CHANTED
WITH THE CORRECT UPS AND DOWNS.
GET THE INTONATION WRONG,
AND THE MEANING
CHANGES COMPLETELY.
NO.
♪ AMEN ♪
MAZEL TOV TO JAKE.
YOU CAN BE SEATED.
DESPITE
A FEW STUMBLES,
JACOB MAKES IT THROUGH.
MIA, PLEASE
COME UP.
AS THE ELDEST,
MIA HAS HAD TO LEARN
TWICE AS MUCH AS HER BROTHER.
♪ AMEN ♪
MAZEL TOV TO MIA.
YOU CAN BE SEATED.
IN SPITE OF HER
NERVES, MIA HAS SAILED THROUGH.
MOM AND DAD WOULD
LIKE TO ADDRESS YOU NOW.
NOW LISA AND CRAIG
CAN WELCOME THEIR CHILDREN
INTO ADULTHOOD.
IT'S THE MOMENT
TO SHARE SOMETHING
THEY DON'T OFTEN TALK ABOUT
BECAUSE FOR MIA, THIS HAS BEEN
A DIFFICULT JOURNEY.
MIA, I STRUGGLE TO FIND
THE WORDS THAT COME EVEN CLOSE
TO EXPLAINING THE LOVE
AND ADMIRATION I HAVE FOR YOU.
YOU KEPT TELLING ME YOU
HAD THIS LUMP IN YOUR NECK
AND SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.
MONTH AFTER MONTH, I TOLD YOU,
"YOU'RE FINE. YOU'RE FINE."
THE LUMP WE FOUND
WAS A TUMOR THAT NEEDED
TO BE REMOVED, AND, JUST
LIKE THAT, OUR LIVES CHANGED.
NEVER ONCE DID YOU CRY.
♪
NEVER ONCE
DID YOU COMPLAIN.
AS WE STAND HERE TODAY
AS YOU BECOME A JEWISH WOMAN,
WE WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR TEACHING US
WHAT IT IS TO BE STRONG.
JACOB...
YOU HAVE BEEN CALLING THE SHOTS
BEFORE YOU ENTERED THIS WORLD.
"FIERY," "DRIVEN,"
"INTENSE," AND "COMPASSIONATE"
ARE WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE YOU.
EVERYONE THAT
MEETS YOU LOVES YOU.
KEEP BEING YOU.
BIG THINGS LIE AHEAD,
AND WE LOVE YOU.
MAZEL TOV.
♪
♪ MAZEL TOV ♪
MAZEL TOV! AH!
THE CEREMONY ENDS
WITH THE THROWING OF CANDY,
AN EXPRESSION OF THE SWEETNESS
OF THE ADULT LIFE
THAT MIA AND JACOB
ARE NOW ENTERING.
♪
I WAS VERY HAPPY
THAT IT WAS OVER WITH
BUT SAD THAT OUR TIME
HERE AT MASADA WAS GONE.
I FEEL THE SAME.
I JUST FEEL LIKE I HAVE
THAT OOMPH IN MY HEAD.
I FEEL
MORE CONFIDENT.
GREAT, THAT'S JUST
WHAT HE NEEDS!
♪
MASADA MAY HAVE
ORIGINALLY PROVIDED
AN UNASSAILABLE SANCTUARY,
BUT MANY SACRED WONDERS
WERE PURPOSE-BUILT TO WELCOME
VAST NUMBERS OF VISITORS.
ST. PETER'S SQUARE
AT THE VATICAN WAS DESIGNED
TO EMBRACE THE LARGE CROWDS
FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD
THAT COME TO HEAR
THE POPE SPEAK,
AND THE LARGEST ANNUAL
GATHERING ON EARTH
IS AT THE SHRINE OF IMAM HUSAYN
IN IRAQ DURING ARBA'EEN.
IT'S MORE THAN TWICE AS BUSY
AS MECCA DURING THE HAJJ,
BUT IN NORTHWEST INDIA,
THERE IS ONE WONDER
THAT GREETS ITS HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPPERS
IN A UNIQUE WAY...
♪
THE GOLDEN TEMPLE.
IN THE BUSTLING CITY
OF AMRITSAR...
♪
A TEMPLE HAS STOOD ON THIS SITE
FOR OVER 400 YEARS,
AND IT WAS REBUILT WITH MARBLE
AND GOLD IN THE 19th CENTURY.
IT'S SURROUNDED BY A HOLY LAKE
KNOWN AS THE POOL OF NECTAR,
AND IT IS THE MOST SACRED PLACE
FOR INDIA'S FOURTH BIGGEST
RELIGION... SIKHISM.
FOUNDED IN THE 16th CENTURY
AS A FOCAL POINT OF WORSHIP
FOR SIKHS, THE TEMPLE
IS OPEN ON ALL 4 SIDES
TO SHOW THAT IT WELCOMES PEOPLE
FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD.
♪
TOMORROW IS THE START
OF THE VAISAKHI FESTIVAL.
NEARLY A QUARTER OF A MILLION
VISITORS A DAY
WILL BE COMING
THROUGH THE GATES,
AND EVERY SINGLE ONE
WILL BE GREETED
WITH A FREE MEAL.
♪
THIS YEAR, TAJINDER SINGH
HAS VOLUNTEERED
TO HELP WITH THIS
COLOSSAL CATERING JOB.
♪
VAISAKHI MARKS
THE TIME, OVER 300 YEARS AGO,
THAT THE SIKH FAITH INITIATED
A BROTHERHOOD OF WARRIOR SAINTS
WHOSE TASK WAS TO PROTECT
THE INNOCENT
FROM RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.
THE TRADITIONS
AND WAY OF LIFE THEY BEGAN
ARE CELEBRATED AT VAISAKHI.
TAJINDER
IS VOLUNTEERING
TO SHOW HIS COMMITMENT
AS A SIKH.
♪
HE'LL BE WORKING IN AN
UNASSUMING, RED-BRICK BUILDING
JUST BEHIND THE GOLDEN TEMPLE.
♪
THIS IS THE LANGAR,
THE TEMPLE'S COMMUNAL KITCHEN.
THE LANGAR EMBODIES
ONE OF THE KEY PRINCIPLES
OF SIKHISM...
THAT EVERYONE IS EQUAL,
SO, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE
OR WHAT YOUR RELIGION,
EVERYBODY WHO SETS FOOT
IN THE GOLDEN TEMPLE IS INVITED
TO SIT AND EAT
ALONGSIDE OTHERS.
TAJINDER HIMSELF EATS HERE
EVERY TIME HE COMES TO PRAY.
ALL THE FOOD SERVED
IS DONATED,
AND MOST OF IT'S COOKED
BY VOLUNTEERS...
♪
BUT TO CATER FOR
ALL THE EXTRA WORSHIPPERS
OVER THE VAISAKHI FESTIVAL,
THE LANGAR NEEDS
THOUSANDS MORE HELPERS,
AND THIS YEAR,
TAJINDER WILL BE AMONG THEM.
THERE'S ONE PROBLEM...
HE'S NO COOK.
HE'S A PHARMACIST
AND A BUSINESSMAN.
AT HOME, IT'S HIS WIFE
AND DAUGHTERS
WHO DO ALL THE COOKING.
TAJINDER RARELY
SO MUCH AS FRIES AN ONION,
AND YET OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS,
HE INTENDS TO HELP
WITH EVERY SINGLE CATERING JOB
AT THE TEMPLE.
♪
4:30 A.M.
THE CROWDS ARE ALREADY
GATHERING TO PAY HOMAGE
TO THE SIKHS' HOLY BOOK...
THE SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB.
♪
EVERY MORNING, IT IS TAKEN
BENEATH A JEWEL-ENCRUSTED CLOTH
FROM ITS OVERNIGHT
RESTING PLACE
TO BE DISPLAYED
IN THE TEMPLE'S INNER SANCTUM.
♪
IN THE LANGAR, TAJINDER'S
TWO-DAY MARATHON BEGINS.
HIS FIRST JOB IS MAKING ROTI,
THE TRADITIONAL FLATBREAD.
THEY MUST MAKE AROUND
250 FLATBREADS EVERY MINUTE
IF THEY'RE NOT TO RUN OUT.
AFTER TAJINDER'S SHIFT
ON THE ROTIS,
THE TASKS COME THICK AND FAST.
♪
THERE ARE NOW
OVER 5,000 PEOPLE PASSING
THROUGH THE LANGAR
EVERY 20 MINUTES...
♪
AND THE DEVOTEES
JUST KEEP COMING.
♪
IN THE KITCHENS,
TAJINDER IS ON TO ONE
OF THE MOST CRUCIAL
JOBS OF ALL...
COOKING LENTIL DAAL.
IT'S THE MAIN INGREDIENT
OF EVERY MEAL
SERVED IN THE LANGAR.
THERE ARE 8 VATS ON THE GO,
AND THERE IS PLENTY OF DAAL
READY WHEN THE DOORS OPEN
FOR THE FIRST
BREAKFAST SITTING...
♪
BUT THEY QUICKLY
HIT A PROBLEM.
TENS OF THOUSANDS
MORE WORSHIPPERS
HAVE TURNED UP THIS YEAR
THAN EXPECTED,
AND THE KITCHENS
ARE RUNNING OUT OF DAAL.
♪
DESPITE THE SURGE,
THE LENTIL TEAM
MANAGES TO CATCH UP...
♪
BUT TAJINDER STILL HAS
ONE MORE TASK
TO COMPLETE... THE WASHING UP.
♪
THE DISHWASHING TEAM
HAS TO SEND THE PLATES BACK OUT
AT A RATE OF 270 PER MINUTE,
OR THE DINING ROOM
WILL GRIND TO A STANDSTILL.
WITH HIS SHIFT
NOW FINISHED,
ANOTHER VOLUNTEER
TAKES HIS PLACE...
♪
AND TAJINDER HAS TIME TO PRAY
IN THE POOL OF NECTAR
AS THE DAY OF VAISAKHI
DRAWS TO AN END.
♪
TAJINDER'S PARENTS
HAVE COME TO JOIN HIM.
♪
IT'S TIME
TO CELEBRATE VAISAKHI.
♪
AS TRAVEL HAS BECOME
EASIER, SOME SACRED WONDERS
HAVE HAD TO ACCOMMODATE
MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER.
THE GRAND MOSQUE IN MECCA
HAS BEEN EXTENDED
IN THE LAST 7 YEARS TO COPE
WITH THE OVER 2 MILLION
VISITORS THAT COME TO WORSHIP
DURING THE HAJJ,
BUT FOR OTHERS,
IT'S HARD TO PULLA CROWD
IN THE 21st CENTURY.
♪
THE CATHEDRAL
OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE,
A SLEEPING GIANT
AMONG THE STREETS
AND SKYSCRAPERS OF MANHATTAN.
♪
ST. JOHN'S IS THE LARGEST
ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL
IN THE WORLD,
ALMOST AS LONG AND HIGH
AS ST. PETER'S BASILICA
AT THE VATICAN IN ROME.
ITS CAVERNOUS INTERIOR
COULD FIT TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS
END TO END AND IS OVERLOOKED
BY ONE OF THE LARGEST
STAINED-GLASS ROSE WINDOWS
IN THE WORLD.
IN THE 19th CENTURY,
IT WAS BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE
A CONGREGATION OF 3,000 PEOPLE,
BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED,
AND FOR THIS CATHEDRAL,
THAT FLOOD OF WORSHIPPERS
HAS TURNED INTO LITTLE MORE
THAN A TRICKLE.
"SIRE, THEY WOULD HAVE
REPENTED LONG AGO."
PATTI WELCH
IS A PRIEST AT ST. JOHN'S.
WELCH, VOICE-OVER:
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 16 YEARS,
AND WE'VE NEVER HAD
A LOT OF NUMBERS
AT OUR LUNCHTIME SERVICES,
BUT THEY HAVE DWINDLED,
AND I'VE SEEN THEM DWINDLE ALSO
AT OUR SUNDAY SERVICES.
THE GIFTS OF GOD
FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
♪
PATTI IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR AN EVENT THAT,
ON AT LEAST ONE DAY
OF THE YEAR,
SEES THE CATHEDRAL
PACKED TO THE RAFTERS.
SHEEPS, GOATS. WE HAVE...
THE SKUNK IS COMING.
OH, I'M
SO GLAD.
I THINK WE HAVE
TO BE VERY CAREFUL
WHERE WE PUT HIM.
TOGETHER
WITH CATHEDRAL MANAGER
LISA SCHUBERT, PATTI IS
ORGANIZING A REMARKABLE EVENT
THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE
IN JUST 24 HOURS.
SO WE'LL PUT
OSCAR IN FRONT.
HE'S ALWAYS VERY
SWEET AS LONG
AS THEY GIVE HIM
LOTS OF LETTUCE,
AND HE LOOKS GOOD
IN HIS GARLAND.
TOMORROW A MENAGERIE
OF OVER A THOUSAND ANIMALS,
ALONG WITH THEIR OWNERS
AND HANDLERS, WILL BE ARRIVING
AT THE CATHEDRAL TO CELEBRATE
THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS,
THE PATRON SAINT OF ANIMALS.
PEOPLE ALWAYS
LOVE TEDDY,
ALTHOUGH HE'S GOT
TERRIBLE BREATH.
SHEEP IS
DONKEY'S FRIEND.
OH, SO THEY LIKE
TO WALK TOGETHER.
YES, AND SHEEP
CALMS DONKEY DOWN.
OK. GREAT.
PATTI'S BEEN MANAGING
THE CEREMONY FOR OVER A DECADE.
NOW, HERE'S THE THING
ABOUT THE GOAT.
THE GOAT BUTTS.
OH, RIGHT.
HE BUTTS
THE LITTLE CHILDREN.
♪
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE
EVENT IS THE GRAND PROCESSION
OF EXOTIC ANIMALS
DOWN THE AISLE TO BE BLESSED
AT THE ALTAR
BY THE BISHOP OF NEW YORK.
WELCH, VOICE-OVER: THOSE
THOUSANDS INCLUDE PEOPLE
THAT MAY NEVER HAVE WALKED
THROUGH THE DOORS
OF THE CATHEDRAL, WOULDN'T FEEL
DRAWN HERE EXCEPT THAT
THEY'RE INVITED TO BRING
THEIR BELOVED PET WITH THEM.
IT'S NOW ONE OF
THE BIGGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR
FOR PATTI, RIVALLING EVEN
CHRISTMAS AND EASTER,
BUT APART FROM BRINGING PEOPLE
INTO THE CATHEDRAL,
PATTI BELIEVES IT ALSO SERVES
AN IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL PURPOSE.
WELCH, VOICE-OVER:
IT'S ABOUT CONNECTING WITH
THESE AMAZING CREATURES THAT
WE INHABIT THIS SPACE WITH,
THAT WE SHARE THIS EARTHLY
PLANE, THIS EARTH WITH,
AND THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR
THEM AND WHAT THEY GIVE TO US.
♪
BUT WITH OVER
A THOUSAND ANIMALS
IN THE CATHEDRAL TOMORROW,
THERE'S NO GUARANTEE
THE CEREMONY WILL GO
ACCORDING TO PLAN.
♪
9 A.M. ON THE FEAST
OF SAINT FRANCIS.
♪
THE SERVICE IS DUE TO START
IN TWO HOURS,
AND ALREADY
LARGE CROWDS ARE BUILDING.
♪
OH, LADY GAGA,
SO BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU,
THANK YOU.
HOW OLD IS MAX?
9 MONTHS.
OH, A PUPPY. HI.
YEAH.
OH, HE'S GORGEOUS.
WHO IN THE WORLD
IS THIS?
MAYBELLE.
HI, MAYBELLE.
IT'S LOOKING TO BE
A COLOSSAL ATTENDANCE.
OVER 2,000 THOUSAND PEOPLE
HAVE ARRIVED SO FAR,
INCLUDING SEVERAL MEMBERS
OF PATTI'S CONGREGATION
PLUS THEIR PETS.
HI, ARCHIE.
HA HA HA!
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.
AFTER THE SERVICE,
EVERYONE HERE WILL HAVE
A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR OWN
ANIMALS BLESSED OUTSIDE
BY PATTI, BUT THE MORE
OVEREXCITED PETS
PACKED IN THE PEWS, THE GREATER
THE POTENTIAL FOR PANDEMONIUM.
♪
MEANWHILE,
THE PROCESSION ANIMALS
AND THEIR HANDLERS
ARE ARRIVING.
♪
EVERY YEAR, A LOCAL ANIMAL
SANCTUARY LOANS THEM TO PATTI
FOR THE DAY TO HELP
THE CATHEDRAL WITH FUNDRAISING.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LEAD
ONE OF THESE EXOTIC ANIMALS
UP THE AISLE OR BRING A PET
CAN MAKE A DONATION.
THE MONEY RAISED
FUNDS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY
AND HELPS WITH THE UPKEEP
OF THE CATHEDRAL,
BUT MANY OF THE ANIMALS
REQUIRE CAREFUL HANDLING.
OH, BOA, BOA, BOA.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, BEHIND SHEEP,
AND THEN, BOA, STAY THERE.
IT'S WONDERFUL
TO SEE THE CATHEDRAL FULL
FOR OUR ST. FRANCIS DAY
CELEBRATION,
AND IT IS A MIXTURE
OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS.
11 A.M. THE BISHOP
OF NEW YORK BEGINS THE SERVICE.
♪
PATTI HAS JUST 45 MINUTES LEFT
TO GET ALL THE ANIMALS LINED UP
AND READY TO MOVE OUT ON CUE.
THE MAMA DUCK WITH
THE BABY DUCKS? YES.
PATTI'S ARK
IS TAKING SHAPE...
OSCAR'S GONNA GO
FIRST UP THE RAMP
AND DOWN THE AISLE
FOLLOWED BY CAMEL.
BUT ALL THE ANIMALS
NEED TO BE LINED UP
IN A VERY PARTICULAR ORDER
FOR THE PROCESSION.
WE DON'T WANT BIRDS OF
PREY BEHIND THE BABY DUCKLINGS.
NO.
IF PREDATOR SPECIES
ARE PLACED
NEXT TO POTENTIAL PREY,
THEY COULD ATTACK,
AND LARGE ANIMALS MIGHT KICK
SMALLER ANIMALS BEHIND THEM.
ALL RIGHT, DIANE.
LET'S HEAD DOWN.
THE SERVICE
IS NOW WELL UNDER WAY.
♪
WITH ONLY 30 MINUTES
LEFT TO GO,
ONE OF PATTI'S ANIMAL HANDLERS
HAS FAINTED...
SO WE'RE CALLING 911.
WE'RE LETTING SECURITY KNOW.
BUT THE SHOW
MUST GO ON.
ALL RIGHT.
EVERYBODY LINE UP.
IF YOU'VE GOT ANIMALS,
COME WITH ME.
WE’LL ASK THE CONGREGATION
TO BE SEATED.
FINALLY,
IT'S TIME TO GO.
OPEN THE DOORS.
OPEN THE DOORS.
THE PROCESSION OF ANIMALS
IS BEGINNING NOW.
♪
WELCH, VOICE-OVER: I LOSE SLEEP
OVER WHETHER OR NOT THE ANIMALS
WILL ACTUALLY MAKE IT
ALL THE WAY DOWN
THE MAIN AISLE
OF THE CATHEDRAL.
♪
WHEN THE ANIMALS
ENTER THE NARROW AISLE,
THEY COULD FEEL TRAPPED.
THIS IS THE MOMENT THEY'RE
MOST LIKELY TO PANIC...
♪
BUT THE ANIMALS
REMAIN CALM.
♪
WELCH, VOICE-OVER:
THERE'S THIS QUIET
THAT ENGULFS
THIS AMAZING CATHEDRAL,
THIS HUGE SPACE,
AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE,
THAT MOMENT WHERE I KNOW
EVERYTHING'S IN PLACE
AND IT'S ALL GONNA BE OK.
♪
THE BISHOP BLESSES
THE LAST OF THE ANIMALS.
THE PROCESSION'S POOP SCOOPER
DEALS WITH ONE FINAL ACCIDENT,
AND PATTI CAN BREATHE
ONCE AGAIN.
THE EVENT HAS BEEN A TRIUMPH.
WELCH, VOICE-OVER:
IT'S ALL WORKED OUT AGAIN,
WHICH IS MIRACULOUS.
TO SEE THIS MAGNIFICENT
CATHEDRAL FILLED
AS IT OUGHT TO BE FILLED
EVERY SUNDAY,
THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT,
THAT WE COME TOGETHER
IN THESE MOMENTS
AND THEY'RE SACRED.
♪