Natraj Temple

Natraj Temple [natˈrɑːʒ ˈtem.pəl] was a nightclub in Munich, Germany from 1996 to 2008.[1] Germany's first steady psytrance nightclub belonged, besides the Tresor and E-Werk in Berlin, the Dorian Gray and Omen in Frankfurt, and the Munich-based clubs Ultraschall, KW – Das Heizkraftwerk and Millennium, to the most renowned clubs of Germany's 1990s techno culture,[2] and was considered an international centre of the Goa trance movement.[3]

Natraj Temple
The former power plant in which the Natraj Temple was located
AddressGrafinger Str. 6, Kunstpark Ost
LocationBerg am Laim, Munich, Germany
Coordinates48°7′24.2″N 11°36′31.1″E
TypeNightclub
Genre(s)Psytrance
Construction
Built1970s
OpenedOctober 1996
Closed2008
Website
Natraj Temple

History and Description

Significance

The significance of the Natraj Temple for the rave culture is due to the fact that it was one of only a few clubs that specialized completely in a single subgenre, in this case psytrance. In the Goa and psytrance scene, decorations based on Hindu, Buddhist or shamanic motifs and symbols as well as spirituality and often excessive intoxication play an important role. Accordingly, the media coverage about the nightclub mostly focused on the psychedelic design of the venue, the elaborate art installations and the alternative scene clientele. Thus Der Spiegel described the Natraj Temple as a place "where many colourful cloths decorate the high walls and long-haired people can smoke their joint under purple light and listening to Indian music".[4] The Süddeutsche Zeitung described the interior of the club as "ghost train ambience, fluorescent cobwebs, an Indian, four-armed goddess is rotating in the semi-darkness", and reported about women sitting cross-legged, visitors who talked for hours with the decoration of the club, and about "Goa freaks who left the Natraj Temple half-naked and barefoot in the deepest winter, wallowing in the snow and then calling for an ambulance".[5] Also travel guides and cultural guidebooks reported, besides the musical specialization on psytrance, mostly about the artistic design of the nightclub.[6][7][8] The Kulturverführer München reported about a dragon above the dance floor, "cuddly cushions in mysterious niches" and an intense palette of colours in the decoration.[6] Due to these special features the psytrance club made a name for itself also outside the scene throughout Europe.[9]

Program and festivals

The musical program of the club concentrated on electronic music of the styles psychedelic trance and Goa trance.[10][6] Often international DJ's and live acts of the psytrance scene played at the Natraj Temple.[11] Regular events at the club carried names like Psychedelic Trance and Special Experience.[12] The Natraj Temple regularly presented his own lovemobiles at Munich's technoparade Union Move and was known for the elaborate and psychedelic design of the floats. The club also organized open air festivals under the name Natraj Summer Dance.[11]

Location

The club was located on the grounds of the Kunstpark Ost factory site in Munich's Berg am Laim district in a disused former power plant.[9] It consisted of a main area with a wooden dance floor, which was surrounded one floor above by a large gallery with the so-called chill-out area, and an adjoining bar room with a kiosk where exotic spices were sold in addition to drinks.[10] In 2003 the Natraj Temple moved into the rooms of the former club K41,[13] and in 2007 once again into the rooms of the former Octagon club.[14]

Compilation albums

The club regularly released compilation albums with names like Natraj Summer Dance or Winterdance.[15]

See also

References
  1. Thillmann, Paulina (29 November 2017). "Deutschlandkarte: Legendäre Clubs" [Germany map: legendary clubs]. Zeitmagazin. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  2. Hitzler, Ronald; Pfadenhauer, Michaela; Hillebrandt, Frank; Kneer, Georg; Kraemer, Klaus (1998). "A posttraditional society: Integration and distinction within the techno scene". Loss of safety? Lifestyles between multi-optionality and scarcity (in German). p. 85. doi:10.1007/978-3-322-83316-7. ISBN 978-3-531-13228-0.
  3. "Country: Germany". Mushroom Magazine. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  4. Brinkbäumer, Klaus (22 February 1999). "Jugendszene: Kunst statt Knödel" [Youth scene: art instead of dumplings]. Der Spiegel. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  5. Weigend, David (11 May 2010). "Techno in München: Totgesagte raven länger" [Techno in Munich: The dead rave longer]. Süddeutsche Zeitung. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  6. Hosfeld, Rolf; Götz, Veruschka; Kotteder, Franz (August 2005). Kulturverführer München [Cultural seducer Munich] (2 ed.). Hamburg: Helmut Metz Verlag. p. 88. ISBN 978-3937742083.
  7. Ascher, Andreas (28 August 1998). Nelles Guide: Munich (3 ed.). Munich: Nelles Verlag GmbH. ISBN 978-3886181209.
  8. Conners, Valerie; et al. (8 December 2006). MTV Europe (MTV Guides) (1 ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0764584992.
  9. Söder, Francis (2006). "Hallenkultur und Event statt Denkmal und Industriekultur". In Kaestle, Thomas; Walz, Manfred; Wende, Ovis (eds.). Kunst + Planung = Urbanität? Brachflächen zwischen Stadtentwicklung und urbaner Kunst [Hall culture and event instead of monument and industrial culture]. FH Dortmund. pp. 74–75.
  10. "Natraj Temple - Psychodelic experience". munichx. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  11. "Scene portal Goabase.net". Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  12. "Natraj Temple". Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  13. Temsch, Jochen (18 September 2003). "Nachtleben II: Happy Geisterstunde" [Nightlife II: Happy witching hour]. Süddeutsche Zeitung. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  14. "Natraj zieht um" [Natraj is moving]. Partysan. 26 February 2007. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  15. "Natraj Temple". Discogs. Zink Media, Inc. Retrieved 15 July 2020.

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