Hare Krishna chants echoes in Oz’s Rundle Mall once again

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Adelaide, Sept 30: The Hare Krishna group, whose activities in Rundle Mall in the 80s were a predecessor to the more recent street preachers, has been seen chanting its way down the Mall in recent months.

Though, this time round the group has vowed that it will not disrupt retailers or shoppers as it promotes the “principles of spiritual life.”

The movement, which believes in vegetarianism and reincarnation, was a Rundle Mall fixture in the eighties, angering city traders who claimed that the chantings turned away shoppers.

“Our intention is not to disturb anybody,” Adelaide Now quoted Hare Krishna temple president, Dr Ananda Krishnan, as saying.

“If a shopper feels disturbed, we will move on straight away,” he said.

Dr Krishnan said he decided to “revive the tradition” after he took over the running of the Hare Krishnas’ Kilburn temple 18 months back.

He said that the religious group, which has not applied for a permit, is also handing out pamphlets inviting shoppers to visit the temple.

“Normally we like to choose a place where there are a lot of people,” he said.

“We know not everybody is interested in a spiritual life but we want them to know that that is an option that is available to them,” he added. (ANI)