Fun police on the prowl at Hampi

Hippies to be under watch at famous hampi fest as a group of volunteers decides to clean the world heritage site of drugs and nudity

Fun police on the prowl at Hampi

Hippies to be under watch at famous hampi fest as a group of volunteers decides to clean the world heritage site of drugs and nudity

Every year, hordes of hippies descend on Hampi along with other visitors from abroad during the November-January tourist season, a time that also ovelaps with the Hampi Utsav. This year, they better be careful.

As the state gears up to hold the Hampi Utsav from December 27, the Hampi Ulisi Andolana Samithi, a group of volunteers that has launched the 'Save Hampi' campaign, is determined to keep an eye on the flower children and their excesses.

"They go about nude at places not far from the Virupaksha temple, which is a sacred place," said Anil Naidu, a member of the samithi. "They indulge in prostitution, besides doing drugs like charas and opium. We will simply not allow them do such things this time."

Steeped in history, Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire and today is a Unesco world heritage site.

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In January, the Hampi festival will coincide with celebrations to mark the 500th year of Vijayanagara king Krishnadevaraya ascending the throne. Because of this, the authorities plan to organise the whole programme on a grand scale this year.

The heir of the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire heads the Hampi Ulisi Andolana Samithi.

Volunteers who find hippies indulging in illegal activities will tip off the local police.u00a0

Flower cower time in Hampi?

The decision to keep hippies under watch was taken at a meeting of the samithi held from November 13 to 15 at Hampi.

According to the plan, 250 volunteers will be deployed across Hampi, especially on the beach premises at Viruapura Gedde, Anjanadhri hills and Sanapur Lake, where hippies camp in temporary sheds.

Apart from the illegal aspects of drugs use and other behaviour that goes against the law of the land, the issue is also a sentimental one.

"The question was first raised in 1997. A group of historians and activists then made a plea to the state government. The then chief minister J H Patel responded immediately, ordering stringent action against illegal activities," said Prof Chidananada Murthy, a renowned historian. "The number of hippies has come down since then, but their activities still needs to be checked, as hippie culture is disturbing a sacred place like Hampi.

Local people have decide to take on this responsibility by themselves, and are doing it effectively."

Note of caution

But other academicians are skeptical about the idea of volunteers keeping a watch on people, and urge the self-appointed police to be careful they are not overzealous.

"Such an exercise should not affect foreign visitors who aren't hippies," said Dr D V Paramshivmurthy, a professor at Hampi University, and a Hampi resident. "We also have academicians, litterateurs and authors visiting during the festival season. Volunteers should keep this in mind."