Goldie's Indian holiday

There was much excitement when Hollywood actress, producer and director Goldie Hawn reached the ghats of Banaras.
The boatmen and little children selling flowers on the ghat welcomed her with hugs. Goldie, who was recently on a three-day personal visit to Banaras, has always shared a special relationship with them, something that was evident from her past visits too.���She is the most popular actress on the ghats as she has no celebrity airs and interacts with everyone with great warmth,��� said Rajnath Yadav, who drove her around the town.
The actress on her part was all charm. She participated in the Ganga aarti with great fervour and seemed to love every moment of it. She also enjoyed a boat ride on the Ganga early in the morning on Sunday and spent a lot of time on the ghat, which was followed by a walk in the Vishwanath gali. The Academy Award winning actress who stayed at the Nadesar Palace, that has been converted into a hotel, was seen basking in the sun on the sprawling lawns of the palace on Sunday. A session of spa seemed to interest Goldie who indulged herself in it.
Looking gorgeous in a black and green dress with a white shawl draped over her shoulders she listened with rapt attention to every word the guide told her about Bharat Mata Mandir. But then everything about Banaras enamours the actress, who has visited the city several times before.
���This time it is for old friends��� sake,��� said Goldie, in an exclusive chat with JT, for she has many in the city especially on the ghats. ���Varanasi is a great place to be in. I learn something new about the city every time I am here. It is really commendable that there is a temple dedicated to the mother land that denotes the spirit of nationalism. I have seen nothing like this before,��� said the actress. With the talk drifting to Bollywood she said, ���I have seen a number of Hindi films but don���t recollect the names at the moment. However I have met the late Raj Kapoor once.��� Goldie who has given some rib-tickling performances in several of her films however did not lose her sense of humour despite being chased by mediapersons. ���There is a photographer who is constantly dazzling my eyes with her camera,��� she said in a complaining tone but the smile never leaving her face.
The small silk shop in the lane on the Dashshwamedh Ghat is a favourite haunt for the actress, who picked up a stole from there. Spending some time with the shop owner, Pappu, is what she never misses whenever she visits the city.