Hindu troops of 1st Battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment, stationed in Saigon (French Indo-China, now Vietnam) celebrate the festival of Dasera.

Medium shot showing, on the right hand side of frame, a group of men building a sacred fire for the coming festival and on the left rows of small arms to be blessed. Men building the fire. Man beating a large drum. A Brahmin (priest) before the fire. The priest anoints a man with a row of Bren guns in the foreground. Looking towards a group round the fire; in the foreground is a rifle rack and the camera looks through a thicket of bayonets. Troops watching the ceremony. A small goat is blessed before being sacrificed. The goat, held by its hind legs and with its neck stretched out with a length of rope, is decapitated with a single stroke of a kukri. The priest (addressing the men?). The executioner dances wildly still holding the kukri. Two men are anointed by the priest; according to the dopesheet one is a battalion hero and holder of the Military Medal.

Notes

An interesting record of the customs of the old Indian Army being observed in an alien environment. The dopesheet adds that normally this festival would see the sacrifice of fifty to a hundred goats and that 'in Saigon...goats are very scarce but after a good deal of searching [one was found]'. After the slaughter the battalion's arms would be blooded for good luck. However, this film is not recommended for animal lovers or the squeamish as the view of the goat's head parting company from its body is unflinching.

This ceremony was also covered by a still photographer. See related items.

In Nepal this festival is known as Dashain and can be seen being observed by Gurkhas in the film referenced below. See related items.