NY swings to Kama Sutra love

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">NEW DELHI: The hotel lounge may never be the same again. At a swanky singles bar called K Space in Midtown New York, quasi-spiritual converts are thronging to learn from a frieze of Kama Sutra positions. <br /><br />Inside the sensual paradise, plasma screens play Mira Nair''s Kama Sutra; scented jasmine candles are lit to "arouse sexual energies"; aphrodisiac cocktails like Jaipur Moon are served with <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">tantric tikkas</span> and sensual <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">samosas </span>by waitresses who wear revealing saris like sarongs and whisper: "As you wish''.Women in low-waist jeans get their palms read, men get their bodies hennaed and hi-flying New Yorkers watch the demonstration of Kama Sutra postures by ''suitably-clothed'' women.<br /><br />This lounge was the idea of hotelier-playboy Vikram Chatwal and Gotham and Mallika Chopra, children of new-age guru Deepak Chopra. Vatsayan''s old art has been reborn as Yoga of Love here and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">The New York Times</span> describes this taste of India as an ''aperitif.'' <br /><br />Says Chatwal: "The Kama Sutra inspired us to create a palace''s den, where people would meet and indulge in a historical practice that is both sensual and stimulating." He has invested $350,000 in the NY project and is looking towards lounges in London, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Boston, Chicago and Montreal.<br /><br />"Sex can be a spiritual experience, if practised right. We''re providing a sensual rather than a sexual environment and hope to channelise sexual energy to achieve a higher state of consciousness," says Chatwal.<br /><br />The response has been ebullient. When scantily-clad Manjit gyrated and sang, Hum tum ek kamre mein band ho, on the opening night, Flea of Red Hot Chilli Pepper hit the dance floor. Rapper Puff Daddy and Jay Z were zapped by her Chura liya snake dance number. Patricia Velasquez, designers Diane Von Furstenberg and Ritu Beri have dropped by and studied the revealing stone carvings of KS poses on the walls. And so has Al Gore''s daughter.<br /><br />Explaining it''s USP, Gotham Chopra says: "The Kama Sutra isn''t simply about sex but about channelling sexual energy into something creative. We''re trying to stimulate the senses. This lounge is a space for momentary indulgence." Mallika Chopra says: "We did a lot of research on how to tantalise the senses. We want our guests to have a sensual, spiritual, intellectual experience."<br /><br />All this through the KS? "Why not," she counters. "KS is where Indian spirituality and sex meet. The idea is to use the rich art, texts, science and practice of sexuality and present them in a sensual atmosphere," she adds.</div> </div>