Date:15/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/15/stories/2007021520710200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Parroting the future

Anil Kumar Sastry

WHAT LIES AHEAD?: A soothsayer entertaining a tennis player in Bangalore. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: International tennis players who have come for the WTA tournament were treated to Indian exotica. Not only did they sashay down the ramp wearing colourful saris at a city hotel, but they were also introduced to soothsaying, gili shastra, to be precise.

Dressed in a white kurta and dhoti, a red turban and a vermillion mark dominating his forehead, the soothsayer placed himself strategically and very visibly with his parrot and the deck of cards.

Entranced, curious tennis players made a beeline for him after being encouraged by the hosts. Dasaratharama, the soothsayer, played his role to perfection, asking his bright green companion to pick up a card before "predicting" the future of the hopefuls. He also did not forget to read their palms and foretell something sweet. No wonder almost all the women players were told they would be successful in the tournament. Dasaratharama, from Hyderabad, now lives in Bangalore.

The polyglot even manages some broken English to attract "international customers."