Nonsectarian Heaven? Nope, Fair
This article, "Nonsectarian Heaven? Nope, Fair" was published in The Tennessean, September 21, 1973, in Nashville, Tennessee.
By KATHLEEN GALLAGHER
The Churches of Christ are giving away Bible lessons, the Mormons are selling cheeseburgers, and across the aisle the Seventh-day Adventists are teaching folks how to stop smoking.
Outside, the Hare Krishnas are selling incense and beads, and in another shed the Cumberland Presbyterians are serving up barbecue and beans while the Lutheran men fry cheeseburgers and the Pentecostal Tabernacle members dish out chitterlings and fish.
IT SOUNDS like some dreamy theologist's view of the nonsectarian heaven, but actually it is better known as the Tennessee State Fair. Up on the hill between the grandstand and the livestock barns are several buildings dedicated to food concessions and non-agricultural exhibits, and it is within this area that all the different religions, for at least one week out of the year, can flourish in harmony.
A visitor to the exhibition hall can gather up fistfuls of literature such as the United Methodist's "Upper Boom" or the Salvation Army fact hook without making any group feel left out.
Perhaps the most unsual religous booth is the one outside the exhibit hall, run by the flare Krishna religion, where copies of the group's "Bible," the Bhagavad-gita, are sold alongside exotic-scented soaps, and perfumes, vegetarian cookbooks and Indian garments.
ONE OF THE Hare Krishnas who calls himself "Swami" said he had traveled the fair circuit throughout the summer, trying to make money for the religion as well as spread its doctrines.
"All the products that we sell are made in spiritual communes in this country, of which we have 80," he said.
"We haven't had any trouble here, even though we look strange. We have really liked all the people in this city, and we hope to start a temple here to teach people yoga and self-realization."
The men in the Hare Krishna group all wear robes and sandals. Their heads are shaved, except for a small pony tail coming from the middle of the back of their heads.
WHILE HE spoke, Swami ate with his fingers a vegetarian meal of fried potatoes and stew from a silver tray. He explained that silver is considered "a pure metal." He said the Hare Krishna communes have no problems with divorce or drugs.
"None of us get a salary," he said. "It's all communal."
Special events at the fair today include the jack and jennet show at 9 a.m., the Middle Tennessee and State Future Farmers livestock and dairy judging contests from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m., and free variety shows at 2 and 7 p.m. in the grandstand.
Photo: 'Swami' and Vegetarian Meal (Sheree Short, left, and Rita Savage, both 14, of Celina, Tenn., watch "Swami," a member of the Hare Kishna religion, eat a vegetarian meal at the sect's exhibition booth at the Tennessee State Fair.)