Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies's video: The Shakta Aghoris in Kamakhya: An Interview with Prema Goet

"The Shakta Aghoris in Kamakhya: An Interview with Prema Goet" Thursday, 2nd March, 10:30am–11:30am UTC Prema Goet will be speaking about his experiences and ethnographic research with the Shakta Aghoris during the Ambubachi Mela at the Kamakhya Temple in Assam. He has long term friendships with the Aghoris and has first-hand experiences of their mixing extreme antinomian asceticism with priestly services and philanthropy. He will be speaking on the lives of the Aghoris as well as his own role in representing the group through his work. He has published a photo journal entitled Against the Grain, which he will use to illustrate his presentation. Prema Goet is a multi-disciplinary researcher whose main interest lies in the intellectual history, culture and languages of South Asia. He received his BA in Sanskrit and MA in Philosophy and Religion from The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) – University of London. He is currently a visual-anthropologist researcher for The Śākta Traditions Research Project at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. His interest focuses mainly on the performative ritual practices of various ascetic groups of South Asia. He has extensively worked with various practitioners from the region (India, Nepal and Bangladesh), documenting and producing a vast array of ethnographic works on tantric rituals, worship of the Goddess(es), aghora and yogic practices, etc. Amongst other things, Prema has also produced and recorded various audio-recordings of traditional chantings and music performed by the various groups he has worked with. His 2019 exhibition at the OCHS, The Path of Śakti, was curated and introduced by Prof. Chris Dorsett from The Pitt Rivers Museum – University of Oxford. Purchase Prema Goet's book from here: https://www.paralibrum.com/reviews/against-the-grain-by-prema-goet