Saibal Dasgupta,TNN | Aug 1, 2015, 09.17 PM IST
Chinese go ecstatic dancing over Krishna kirtans
BEIJING: In a rare event, over 200 sang kritans and danced to the tune of 'Hare Krishna' in Beijing on Saturday. The event, which would have been impossible to imagine in Communist China until recently, is a sign the government is ready to extend its liberal approach from yoga to Indian meditation forms. "The situation is slowly changing, People in China want spirituality. They are responding enthusiastically to Krishna kirtans," Kavichandra Swami, a senior monk of ISKCON, told TNN. The event began with the Swami explaining some basic aspects of Gita concerning the endless human search for happiness, and the importance of the "Hare Krishna" mantra. The audience responded surprising well to exhortations from the dais to chant mantra. At the end of three hours, the audience opened up and joined in the dancing with the monks and volunteers. It was a rare, almost unbelievable scene of Chinese people dancing to religious kirtans. "There is a strong desire for spiritual fulfillment in China," Lokanath Swami, another monk who sang most of the kirtans, said, adding, "People of China are natural and good hearted. We expect a lot of Chinese people to accept this path of happiness". Most in the audience picked up Chinese copies of copies of "Bu Jian Fan Ge'' or "Bhagvad Song" which was given as part of the entry ticket price of 200 yuan (Rupees 2000). In the auditorium, musicians from India played the table, mridangam, flute and harmonium as trained singers sang "bhajans" and the well-known tune of "Hare Rama, Hare Krishna" associated with devotees of Krishna. The organizers were careful and did not mention ISKCON in the banners. "We cannot discuss religion openly. But the atmosphere is changing in China," Chang Ann, owner of a yoga school, and one of the organizers of the event. "But we are convinced that yoga and the teachings of Gita can connect people spiritually and bring happiness," she said.
News paper Link:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/Chinese-go-ecstatic-dancing-o ver-Krishna-kirtans/articleshow/48310588.cms
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