epaper.timesofindia.com

MUMBAI, INDIA, August 5,2006: Weekend culture for Indian youth is changing rapidly. From Mumbai to Meerut, a large number of youngsters are happily forgoing their Saturday night boogeying in favor of a spiritual sojourn. Dancing shoes firmly kept aside, they are seeking spirituality like never before. For these people, predominantly in their 20s, spirituality is a means of understanding themselves and the chaos around them. For 26-year-old Mumbaiite Rajul Nahata, visiting temples over the weekend is a way of reconfirming her faith and gives her the kind of satisfaction which no other worldly pleasures can offer. And Anand Beria, a 24-year-old investment banker based in Mumbai, explains, “I love partying, but if it clashes with my satsang sessions, which continue for about three hours, I don’t think twice about just letting the party go. Organized by the Art of Living, I have seen how the Sudarshan Kriya has helped my parents. That’s what prompted me to attend the AOL courses. I have been attending the satsangs for the last six years and they have really benefited me – I have stopped drinking and smoking and have become a calmer and more confident person.” Away from the frenetic beats of discotheques and not smothered by smoke, today’s youth is seeking a certain clarity in its thought processes, and spirituality is providing it just that. So why is it that this generation has turned around the concept of unwinding? One would assume that after a hectic week of tight schedules, these 20-somethings would just let their hair down. Instead, one finds them steeped in spirituality. “Young people today are confronted with more personal trauma than their parents. And events like riots, blasts, and monsoon deluges don’t really help. They also face increasing pressure to excel, whether it’s in their work or their personal relationships. It is like a pressure cooker situation, and one they find difficult to cope with. That’s why they are flocking to spiritual parlors for that elixir called peace,” says Ramesh Raman, in-charge AOL, Maharashtra.

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