Young throng religious stalls at Book Fair

NEW DELHI: If you think that the youngsters are only interested in thrillers and romantic literature, you may be in for a surprise at the Delhi Book Fair.
      
A majority of the visitors to the stalls selling spiritual or religious literature in the ongoing fair here are not the elderly, as one may have expected , but youngsters -- looking for a gateway from their stress-struck urban life.
      
A number of religious organisations, including Ramkrishna Mission, Vishwa Jain Sangathan, and International Gaudiya Vedanta Publications, are at the fair with an array of books and CDs on spirituality, Vedic values and Hinduism.
     
"There are demands for upanishads, bhagawad-gita and other religious books. But youngsters are also looking for books on stress management, handling of relationships and meditation," Padmini Bisht from Chinmaya Mission said.
      
"A lot of people are also buying CDs which have soothing spiritual music, which helps you to relax," she said.      

The stall of Acem, a Norway-based non-profit group, is only offering material on how to learn to meditate, relax and increase concentration.
 
"A number of young people are coming to us, eager to know more about it," a representative of the organisation said.
      
"As India surges ahead with its economic prowess, the youth in this country are increasing becoming materialistic. We came from the West attracted by the spiritual traditions of India. Maybe its time Indians look back to their roots," Charuchandrika Dasi, a British monk from the Vrindavan-based Ramanvihari Gaudiya Math said.
      
Sudeep Mishra, a software professional, who was browsing books on Lord Krishna at the Math's stall felt the same. "We had good education, we are making good money, earning all the comforts in life. But the stress level also is too high. Everyone is looking for a way to calm down," he said.