Hey Rich and FS, I hope to see you here

Material souls to seek salvation by the Ganga

By N Vidyasagar

Business Times Bureau

NEW DELHI: The biggest stars of showbiz are expected to visit the Mahakumbh in Allahabad later this month. The premium guest list includes Madonna, Sharon Stone, Pierce Brosnan, Demi Moore and Richard Gere.

British tour operator Cox & Kings confirmed the visit of Hollywood stars to the Mahakumbh but refused to reveal names on security grounds. ``We are bringing in more than 600 premium guests to the Kumbh from around the world,'' Indranil Pramanik in the product development department of Cox & Kings told The Times of India. Most of them will be from the US, the UK and France.

Indian tour operators are making the most of the Kumbh, selling it to international travellers as the quintessential exotic east. Some of them have included the Kumbh as a value addition to their itinerary, which also includes the Pushkar Mela and the desert fair in Rajasthan. ``We don't have a tailormade package. But we are bringing in a host of French celebrities to participate in the Mahakumbh,'' said Madan Kak, manager, tours, Travel Corporation of India.

The tour operators have also arranged special discourses by spiritual leaders for their premium clients. Consultations with astrologers have been included as a special service. ``Tourist bookings for staying in premium camps are full for the important bathing days, including January 14 and 24,'' said Pramanik.

Needless to say, with all its high-profile visitors, the Kumbh has also become a major platform for corporates to promote their products. French mineral water major Danone International Brands Paris, which bottles the Evian brand of water, is making arrangements with Cox & Kings to bring water from the Alps for premium guests. ``It's a great opportunity to push our products and increase their visibility in this spiritual Olympics,'' Amit Mathur, northern regional head of Evian, said.

Pepsi, which has 60 per cent of the cola market in Allahabad city, has tied up with UP Tourism to promote its soft drinks in various camps. It will also try to popularise its recently launched mineral water Aqua Fina.

``Domestic tea brands are making use of the mela to promote their brands,'' said a Hindustan Lever official. Duncan, Tata Tea and Lipton have joined the fray to cash in on the opportunity. Companies engaged in indigenous medicinal systems like ayurveda and unani have set up clinical centres in the mela.

With the mela beginning on Tuesday, all rooms in hotels of all categories are booked. And with demand peaking, prices have also peaked. ``A room which used to cost Rs 200 in normal times now fetch Rs 1200,'' said a tour operator.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), January 09, 2001

Answers

WOOP WOOP WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), January 09, 2001.

As much as I would like to experience a Kumbha Mela, the sheer numbers would not allow me to do so. Crowds are not my cup of tea. Word is you've never experienced being in a crowd until you've been to a mela. Can you say, "Empathic Overload"?

Gotta love this line from above (my emphasis added): ``It's a great opportunity to push our products and increase their visibility in this spiritual Olympics,'' Amit Mathur, northern regional head of Evian, said.

That's the spirit! Hey there! My guru's better than your guru! Bet his time in the 'How long can you stop your heart from beating event' takes top honors! And look how he burns the seeds of his remaining bad karma without breaking a sweat! What a champ!

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), January 09, 2001.

"A room which used to cost Rs 200 in normal times now fetch Rs 1200,'' said a tour operator...

So the rooms go from US$4.- to US$25.- Gee, do you think the stars can afford such accomodations? You can bet they are not staying in those acoomodations.

Peter Jennings ABC news tonight showed the people of India bathing in the Ganges, , "cleansing their souls in preparation for the event" Peter said. The wisdom and clarity in their eyes, if you looked, told you something else. They were already there.

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), January 09, 2001.

Rich, Demi and I will and 80 million of the faithful will miss your vibrations.

-- (maharishi_mahesh_yogi@Allaha.baaad), January 09, 2001.

See purdah! I had rupees!

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), January 09, 2001.

My Dear Maharishi,

Surely you realize vibrations are not bound by time nor distance. Through self-imposed sentencing we imprison our subtle senses thereby disconnecting ourselves from others, from the One. Use your built-in radio transceiver to tune me in and to call upon me. Turn your attention inward. There I can be found.

Namaste,

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), January 10, 2001.

P.S. - Ask Demi to give me a call. It has been far too long since we last spoke.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), January 10, 2001.

Better yet, have Demi fly into Washington-Dulles Int'l from India. I'll meet her flight. With astral bells on...

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), January 10, 2001.

Rich,

Demi feels your vibrations but says they aren't in synch with her own. However, Sharon also felt your vibrations and reacted with an enigmatic smile. Maybe you should call her. When not bathing, she hangs at the Allahabad Bodega (she hates Indian food).

I am teaching Demi to levitate. She is an enthusiatic student but has so far to go. Bruce ruined her. She can't even do lotus. She tried but strained her groin. I am healing with Ayurvedic laying-on of hands.

Tee hee hee.

Maharishi

-- (Maharishi_mahesh_yogi@TMU.edu), January 10, 2001.

My Dear Maharishi,

I can overlook many shortcomings in others as I have so many of my own. Alas, dislike of Indian food is not one of them. My yogi dating service chart specifically lists Indian Food as a turn-on. Also, please have Sharon doublecheck her Akashic records. I have an intuitive feeling her "people" have attempted to monkey with them. That's just plain bad ju-ju.

As for Demi, you might wish to incorporate strobe lights, a stage & pole into her levitation practice. Her surgically-enhanced body- temple appears to have an affinity for them. I'm sure this would likewise benefit her injured groin.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), January 10, 2001.