India goes bananas over its 'future'

The country's addiction to the science of prediction has spawned astrology-centred programmes on many of India's 320 television channels, including those devoted to news and current affairs, and at least a dozen stations devoted to astrology 24 hours a day.

Of 41 new channels whose applications to begin broadcasting are being considered by the information and broadcasting ministry, almost all will devote airtime to astrology, says Arvind Kumar, the civil servant responsible.

For people like Lata Banerji, there is no such thing as too much astrology. Every morning at 7am, the Calcutta housewife settles down to watch Shristi, an all-day astrology channel, to find out what the day holds, what meals she should eat to ward off sickness, and whether she is likely to have adverse problems.

Previously Indians would have individual consultations in person with astrologers. Now millions tune in to watch them - often as a handy emotional crutch.

Confidence boost

"It gives me the confidence I need to face the day," explains Lata. "Americans go to a therapist every week to cope with life. I get my sense of wellbeing from the advice I get from astrologers."

The programmes' repertoires are varied, including horoscopes, agony aunts' advice to distressed viewers, or predictions about Bollywood liaisons. They also keep an eye on the news and tailor their programmes to fit current issues.

The most flagrant display of deep belief in astrology came recently after Bollywood actress and former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai, 33, announced her engagement to Abhishek Bachchan, a 31-year-old actor. Their impending nuptials are billed as India's "wedding of the decade."

However, on the advice of astrologers, Aishwarya has already been married - to a banana tree. Astrologers class her as a "manglik," whose husband faces ill-health or an early death, the hope is that the curse will befall the tree instead.

The Bachchans' genuflection at the altar of superstition has shocked only a few - including Prabir Ghosh, the head of the Science and Rationalists Association of India - a scourge of astrologers who gatecrashes their meetings.

"The Bachchans are stupid and I'm ashamed of their nonsense," says a nonplussed Ghosh.

"How can they call themselves educated?" Equally incensed is Shruti Singh, a lawyer in Patna, eastern India. Disgusted by the tree union, she has filed a lawsuit against the two families, arguing that such ceremonies are offensive to women.

"Abishek's father Amitabh Bachchan is so influential that if he stops smoking, Indians give up smoking. I'm disappointed that he's put his stamp on a backward, archaic ritual," said Shruti.

One of India's favourite astrologers is Prolay Shastri. "We are popular because we help to make people happy free of cost. They get advice sitting at home without having to travel or wait to see someone," he explains.

Indians want astrological advice on everything. Marriage is the most important matter but Lata, for example, sought advice on a career for her son. Other hot topics are whether to accept a job offer, when to buy a car, move house, conceive, and how to sort out a love affair.

Some specialise in medical astrology, with callers asking about health issues, while others provide investment and business advice. Prime ministers often dare not announce a general election and nor do film directors start a shoot without getting an "auspicious" date.

Calcutta alone has eight 24-hour astrology channels and many south Indian cities also have their own, offering a miscellany of fortune-telling, numerology, tarot card-reading, gemology, graphology, and vastu shastra, the Indian version of feng shui.

The belief in astrology among Indians is an article of faith that transcends all social differences. It has become a regular practice for Indian parents to have a horoscope drawn up soon after a baby is born and, in an attempt to speed things up, two young astrologers in Hyderabad have pitched their tents, equipped with laptop computer and printer, right outside the city's hospital.

Kalidas Sriram and Vishi Babu either walk straight into the maternity wards or wait outside until new parents leave, then use the baby's time and date of birth to start churning out horoscopes - for the equivalent of £2 (Dh14.5).

Many Indians have no doubt that astrology can change people's lives for the better.

The glamorous Sunita Menon, India's most famous celebrity soothsayer, was an air hostess when a tarot reader predicted that she would change jobs.

Now she hosts a hugely popular television programme and was recently appointed to the board of India's most famous music company, Tips Industries, to advise on investment and business decisions.