Call it Le Chowki. Delhi’s quintessential mata ki chowkis and jaagrans now come with 5-star trappings. Last Sunday, a five star hotel in the city bore the unusual setting of a mata ki chowki — that gripping congregation where worshippers feverishly sing Bhajans for hours, often to the tunes of popular Bollywood blockbusters.
“This was the first time, I hosted a mata ki chowki at a 5-star hotel, because the weather is too cold for a pandal and also to ward off unwanted elements that enter open chowki venues like public parks,” said industrialist Ashok Jain, the host.
The hotel’s banquet hall, usually set up for cocktail parties and high teas, was turned into an air-conditioned version of the neighbourhood pandal, complete with mattresses on the ground. A stall was set up for devotees to take off their shoes. As Narender Chanchal, Delhi’s star Jagran singer, electrified the crowd, uniformed stewards went around offering soft drinks and fruit juices. The food was a typical 5-star spread, but without onions and garlic. The cost of food to Jain: Rs 2,000 per guest.
Asked if mata ki chowkis are now common at 5-star hotels, Akhil Mathur, director, marketing communications, Le Meridian, where the event was held, said, “No they are very rare.” A source from another 5-star hotel said, “It’s difficult to organise chowkis and jagrans as special food has to be prepared and thousands of slippers have to be looked after. You can ask a DJ to lower the volume, but you have to think twice before asking people in the grip of religious fervour,” the source said.
{{/usCountry}}Asked if mata ki chowkis are now common at 5-star hotels, Akhil Mathur, director, marketing communications, Le Meridian, where the event was held, said, “No they are very rare.” A source from another 5-star hotel said, “It’s difficult to organise chowkis and jagrans as special food has to be prepared and thousands of slippers have to be looked after. You can ask a DJ to lower the volume, but you have to think twice before asking people in the grip of religious fervour,” the source said.
{{/usCountry}}“We have never received any booking for a chowki. However, we can look into such requests,” said Ruchika Mehta, of Shangri - La Hotel.