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Krishna dances to Bollywood tune at New Year bash

 

by Bappaditya Paul in Siliguri

 

Jan 2. — Krishna consciousness has come of age. Or so it seemed at the New

Year bash organised at the Iskcon’s premises here yesterday. To be apt,

Iskcon tuned in to Bollywood to increase its spiritual appeal!

A Siliguri-based publication group organised the extravaganza with support

from the temple authorities. And the fare was complete, with models from

Kolkata flown in to set the ramp on fire — more with their bare rears than

with their style of walk! Popular Bollywood numbers and marvelous orchestra

filled up the air at Iskcon.

But the bashful evening did not hamper the regular rituals of the temple.

The sandhya aarti at the main temple premise was followed without any delay,

informed the Iskcon authorities. “The evening prayer, like any other day

began at 6.30 p.m and continued for more than one-hour.

The celebration at the auditorium below did not cause any obstacle on the

way of carrying out the prayer,” said Mr Pradip Pal, an account section

staff with the Iskcon, Siliguri.

The New year function started at 6.45 p.m and continued till 10.30 p.m.

The temple closed at 9 p.m as per routine. Besides the “cat-walk”, there

were dance numbers by professional artistes. Sridam Govinda Das, the chief

executive of Iskcon, Siliguri, was not available for his comments on the

this event.

Mr Kalyan Bhattacharya, a member of the organising committee seemed to be

obliged by the cooperation meted out by the temple authorities.

“We are really thankful to the Iskcon authorities for allowing the event at

the temple premises at a small ‘donation’ of Rs 2,000 only. Moreover, the

Iskcon authorities at the same time spared six rooms at the temple premise

where all our male and female models spent the Sunday night,” Mr

Bhattacharya said.