It may be fitting that this is the first post, because what became apparent to me through Kumare is the importance of a first impression. The people who approached Vikkram were all looking for significant answers to issues they had been dealing with in their life. It's almost certain that they've had their own thoughts on the issue, and that other people in their life have offered advice, but they wanted a more legitimate source. That's where Kumare came in.
Kumare was able to leave a powerful impression through his physical appearance, and the different "rituals" he had surrounding his belief system. This impression was hugely important for his success, since it authenticated him as a source of answers, someone who could solve the problems others were having because he clearly had knowledge beyond what we can access. In the film, Kumare hardly provided any significant answers, the people themselves did most of the talking or he said simple mannerisms. However, after the impression had been made, people were under the belief that they were in a setting that offered words more meaning. This allowed them to take what they had heard before more seriously.
This is interesting to me because the image and first impression are the most fake part of a religion since there is nothing behind them other than tradition. However they remain necessary to distinguish what is being said from what any normal person could say. The fake rituals and images are what authenticate the answers people receive from that group.
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