Krishna Klause

This article, "Krishna Klause: Skinny Santas find the red suits help drum up donations for sect" was published in Austin American-Statesman, December 11, 1976, in Austin, Texas.

By GLENN GARVIN 
Staff Writer 

No doubt about it, it was old St. Nick himself, a little more gaunt than most of us remember him, but just as jolly. "Ho, ho, ho!" he bellowed as he handed out candy canes to passing motorists on Ben White Boulevard. "Hare Krishna." 

If "Hare Krishna" doesn't seem like a typical Christmas greeting to you, this is no typical Santa. His real name is Bhusaya Das, and he was collecting donations for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. 

"WE'RE DOING THE SOUTH Texas tour," Bhusaya said, taking a break from shouting ho, ho, ho. "Christmas is a giving time of the year. Christmas is a special time of the year. It's like a thankful time." 

"It's a time to be grateful to God for all you have." 

The "Hare Krishna people," as they're usually called, normally fund their religion by selling incense. Their flowing robes and shaved heads usually leave a vivid impression - but not nearly so much as their Santa Claus antics. Five of them darted in and out of Austin traffic Friday, giving away candy canes and taking donations. 

THE SANTA CLAUS OUTFIT is particularly effective, Bhusaya said. "So many people are so receptive when they see Santa Claus," he said. "He's a symbol of so many good things. Everybody's smiling, there's big cheers. Everybody's happy when they see Santa Claus." 

Reporters who watched Bhusaya work for a few minutes quickly discovered he was right. Even the most grim-faced drivers usually broke into smiles when Santa bounded up to their cars. 

"HAVE YOU BEEN A good girl?" he asked one middle-aged woman. She giggled. Bhusaya gave her a candy cane. She gave him a quarter. 

Another car pulled up and Bhusaya ran to the window, shouting "Merry Christmas." Three children in the back seat happily tore the wrappers off their candy canes while their parents puzzled over the Bhagavad-Gita, a book-length sacred poem that Bhusaya gave them. 

MANY PEOPLE GAVE money without ever realizing what he was talking about. "Take this," Bhusaya told one woman as he handed her the Bhagavad-Gita. "It'll explain the real meaning of Christmas." 

A few minutes later, the woman returned. "I don't want this book," she said, handing it back. She drove off without a word of explanation. 

If a few of the adults were suspicious, the children didn't have any doubts. They laughed happily when they spotted Santa, although some were baffled at the absence of his large tummy. 

"WHY ARE YOU SO SKINNY, Santa?" a little boy asked. 

"I'm a vegetarian," Bhusaya replied. "Ho, ho, ho!" Tummy or no tummy, they recognized him. 

Photo: SANTA TOUTS A BOOK EXPLAINING HARE KRISHNA THOUGHT. Everybody's happy to see Santa Claus, tummy or no tummy.