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27 Jan 2012

My plans for the lake

The roads surrounding the lake are packed with shops making money out of the tourists who flock here in their thousands.  The shops sell all the usual stuff that you can buy in Camden Market just at a slightly lower price.  The town is strictly vegetarian and non-alcoholic but their vegetarianism, like most people's stops at leather belts, shoes and handbags.  This supposed to be a holy place but it's been almost completely handed over to tourism and  money making.  I counted about six collection boxes on one set of steps down to the lake and everywhere you go someone wants to "give" you some holy flowers or put a blob of colour on your forhead.  This should come as no surprise really, this combination of religion and commerce.  Think of the Vatican bank and all it's scandals, American mega-churches and the Church of England's vast estates not to mention the entrance charges to their popular buildings.
But the lanes are crowded and the ghats empty so I have a vision for a more economically viable Pushkar Lake where the Hindus can get in on the act too.
BEACH BARS
Think Goa, the beach capital of India.  The steps down to the lake make for perfect settings for a few umbrellas and reclining chairs.  Sand could be imported from the surrounding desert to give the place a more authentic look.  Ok, there is an alcohol ban but that could be lifted just for tourists.  A lot of the popular cafes are run by Israelis  and they could buy the beach bar franchises.  The pilgrims would still have part of the lake for their rituals, say the west bank.  During the popular camel fair the Israelis might have to set up extra bars in the area but that is just good business sense not an intrusion into someone else's space.
BOATING
Clearly boats on the lake would be a terrible affront to the visiting pilgrims.  Tasteful peddellos however might be acceptable.  Peddellos in the shape of holy cows might be fun.
PHOTOGRAPHY
There is a photography ban around the lake.  Why not sell permits to those tourists with long lenses?  They could then photography the pilgrims at their rituals without causing offence.  After all these activities take place in the public realm and we have the right to know what goes on.  It's in the public interest after all.  Any money raised by selling pictures to tour companies and the like could be given to charity after all.
CONCERTS
They have them on a lake on Hampstead Heath and the atmosphere is lovely.  The audience bring picnics and sit out on the grass and listen. It's quite respectful and civilised.  They might even play a bit of Indian classical music.  Ravi Shankar is a Hindu, he might like to come.
These are just a few ideas to create a Hindu Enterprise Zone in line with current Neo Liberal thinking so let's  give it a go.

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