For independent filmmaker Ipsita Guha, the journey of Echoes of Faith: The Gajan Legacy of Singi has reached another significant milestone. The filmmaker’s debut documentary has been honoured as the 1st Runner-Up at the 11th Durgapur International Film Festival (DIFF) 2026), held at Nandan, Kolkata.
The recognition is more than a personal achievement for the director Ipsita Guha—it celebrates the possibilities of independent documentary filmmaking and the importance of preserving stories that remain largely unexplored.While social media is filled with striking images and reels capturing the rituals of Gajan, Guha’s documentary looks beyond the spectacle to investigate the centuries-old historical, cultural and socio-economic legacy behind the festival.The film explores Gajan as a powerful expression of collective faith and community identity, tracing how marginalised Hindu communities historically sought a closer association with the mainstream worship of Lord Shiva. Rather than portraying Gajan simply as a religious festival, Echoes of Faith focuses on its human stories, cultural significance and the emotions carried across generations.
At the same time, the documentary raises an important concern—the gradual fading of traditions that have survived for centuries.The film has also received appreciation at several national and international festivals, including the prestigious BERLIN ARFF, adding to its growing recognition.
For Ipsita Guha, the DIFF award is an encouragement to continue documenting Bengal’s lesser-known cultural narratives. Through Echoes of Faith: The Gajan Legacy of Singi, she demonstrates that documentary filmmaking can be more than recording an event—it can be an act of preservation, observation and cultural remembrance.From Ritual to Heritage: Ipsita Guha’s ‘Echoes of Faith’ Wins 1st Runner-Up at DIFF
A story rooted in faith, forgotten histories and Bengal’s living traditions has earned fresh recognition at the 11th Durgapur International Film Festival. Independent filmmaker Ipsita Guha’s debut documentary, Echoes of Faith: The Gajan Legacy of Singi, has been awarded the 1st Runner-Up honour at DIFF 2026.
The documentary takes a different route from conventional portrayals of Gajan. Instead of focusing only on its dramatic rituals and visual spectacle, Guha delves into the historical journey and social realities that shaped one of Bengal’s most vibrant folk traditions.
Gajan has long represented a powerful collective expression of devotion, identity and community. The film examines the festival through the lens of tradition, socio-economic realities and the deep-rooted faith of marginalised communities, offering an insight into its connection with the worship of Lord Shiva and the broader cultural landscape.
What makes the documentary particularly significant is its attempt to preserve a tradition that may be approaching a fragile point in its existence. As generations change and traditional practices gradually disappear, Echoes of Faith becomes a visual record of memories, beliefs and cultural practices that could otherwise be lost.
The documentary has already travelled across national and international festival platforms and earned critical appreciation, including recognition at the prestigious BERLIN ARFF.For the director, the DIFF honour is not merely an award for a debut film. It is an acknowledgement of the value of independent voices and culturally rooted storytelling.
Echoes of Faith: The Gajan Legacy of Singi ultimately reminds audiences that documenting a tradition is also about documenting the people, emotions and histories that keep that tradition alive.
