Kanwarias prefer Vengaboys music

Monday, July 24, 2006

Varanasi (UNI): 'Bhajans' made on the tunes of chartbusters rendered by the likes of Vengaboys and Himesh Reshamiyya are driving Lord Shiv 'bhakts' -- 'kanwarias' -- crazy in this religious city. It is 'baba' instead of Vengaboys 'Brasil', besides 'bhajans' based on tunes of Himesh Reshamiyya's hit 'Ek Bar Aa Ja' and Bunty Aur Bubbly's 'Kajrare', that have taken the place among the Lord Shiv devotees dancing on the streets of Varanasi. ''The sale of Sawan bhajan's sung by Bhojpuri singers has taken a plunge, while Lord Shiv bhajans based on Bollywood and Vengaboys tunes are the flavour of 'kanwarias' this 'shrawan','' said Tarun, a music seller in Godowlia area.

''Shrawan is the month, when we fully immerse ourselves in Lord Shiv's bhakti. When we can can dance to 'bhajans' tuned on Bollywood hits, then why not enjoy Lord Shiv 'bhakti' on tunes of Vengaboys,'' said Maheshwar, a 'kanwaria' from Chattisgarh, who is filming the prized moments of his trip to Kashi with a handycam. Technology has not only trickled among a select few 'kanwarias' carrying cameras, but is visible in a large number of saffron clad devouts, who have installed choicest of electronic gadgets in their mobile Shivalas, to make them the face in the crowd. Spanning from latest DVD players to digital voice recorders and flashy Chinese bulbs beautifying the mobile Shivala's, all powered by invertors, regularly recharged at special camps of kkanwariask. Meanwhile, a large number of devotees including 'kanwarias', offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath and other prominent temples amid tight security on the second Monday of 'Shrawan'.