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12 Spiritual Retreats in India That Will Enliven Your Soul

12 Spiritual Retreats in India That Will Enliven Your Soul
Last Updated: November 28, 2019

The epitome of marvellous festivals that may hook your soul to linger for longer, India is often considered one of the go-to-countries to have a spiritual holiday. It is such a destination where you’ll be bound with a bag full of holistic experiences and it will not surprise you if we say this blog contains pilgrimage sites…only…it does not. In fact, this time I have mishmashed a number of 12 best festivals and mass-gathering events that may lift your spirits, maybe a notch higher. And as they say, ‘expect the unexpected, well, that’s what, you’ll surely experience seeing the other side of India during your tour here. So come on, let us find out the events that are lined up for you this year and perhaps years to come.

World Sacred Spirit Festival: To connect with your inner self listening to the sound of soulful music

World Sacred Spirit Festival Surrounded by the stunning royal ambience of the popular tourist destination Rajasthan at Nagaur and Jodhpur, the World Sufi Spirit Festival is one of the most sacred events that is held every year. During a week-long festival, you’ll be surrounded by various artists from across the globe offering their melodious voice through soulful Sufi songs and music. This cultural exchange program invites artists from countries like Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan, India, Egypt, China and many other places. Offering a plethora of rich heritage, this cultural extravaganza also present you with folk dances, theatre and lots of poetry. Experience nights of romanticism with some of the renowned Sufi artists at the World Sacred Spirit Festival.

When: February 09 – 13 at Nagaur and February 13 – 16 at Jodhpur

Where: Nagaur Fort in Nagaur and Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Note: You can keep checking this website for more information.

Osho Spring Festival: To feel the sheer abundance of peace through the teachings of Osho

Osho Spring Festival Quite a transformative festival with the abundance of healing techniques through the help of laughter and dance. This spring festival features the rebellious spirit, teachings and wisdom of Acharya Rajneesh, better known as Osho. With an amalgamation of art in healing, you’ll get a taste of Osho spiritual activities like meditation, heart and shakti dance, biodanza, Tibetan pulsing, breathing work, yoga, tantra, Sufism and zen. If this is not enough, get involved in a one-on-one interaction session with the healers who have been following Osho for years.

When: March 01 – 05

Where: Zorba – The Buddha, Delhi

Osho Satsang – A White Robe Gathering: To eradicate the evil forces through spiritual dance and intermittent music

Osho Satsang Like the spring festival mentioned above, this auspicious or rather I’d say a unique event contributes to flowing positive energy around as you dance to the rhythm of the night. A white robe gathering is one of Osho’s teachings that involves lots of spiritual dancing activities. Osho believes that it is the best way to express your thoughts is through dance if not words. Basically, this event starts with pre-work meditation activities that is followed by the dance, but you need not worry because dancing is not mandatory, you can always sit and live in the moment surrounded by soothing ambience listening to some intermittent music.

When: Every Wednesday

Where: Zorba – The Buddha, Delhi

Goa Tantra Festival: To self-explore through various spiritual practices of yoga, meditation and interaction

Tantra Festival Goa A festival of intimacy and finding bliss in little things, the Tantra Festival is for all who seek peace, tranquillity, meditation and yoga, basically everything spiritual. This festival is organized by Love Temple every year in Goa and it is joined by travellers from over 100 countries. This festival in Goa has a variety of activities throughout the festival with dance and music and lots of Goa fever underneath the stars and sandy Arambol beach. The drum circle is played with over 20 drummers that beat playful beats, it will almost enlighten you, like literally. Various types of yoga classes are held like tantra and acro yoga along with various forms of dance that may make you experience spirituality like the contact dance. A partner dance that helps explore yourself and the significant other through movement improvisation.

When: January 06 – 10

Where: Love Temple, Goa

International Spiritual Festival: To partake in healing activities and delve into a holistic experience of wellness

International Spiritual Festival Organised by one of the best NGOs by Life Positive Foundation, International Spiritual Festival is a three-day long event where you can have a holistic experience of wellness and spirituality. During the festival, you’ll be surrounded by soothing ambience where Sister BK Shivani, one of the prime spiritual gurus will introduce us to a number of spiritual leaders and their techniques of healing. The International Spiritual Festival offers a day to day healing activities like vibrational healing, ayurveda, naturopathy, colour therapy, radiant health, pyramid meditation, shakti pravah, transgenerational and also a process that helps understand karmic cycles through our past life regression.

When: March 16 – 18, 10:00 – 18:00

Where: Zorba- the Buddha, Delhi

Kumbh Mela 2021: To learn about the meaning of devotion and the power of humanity

Kumbh Mela This auspicious event needs no introduction because it is one of the most famous festivals in India and largest mass-gatherings in the world. The next Mela is going to take place in Haridwar in the year 2021. Millions of devotees from across the globe visit Kumbh Mela to take a dip in river Ganges and wash away sins. Besides being spiritually aroused, you can witness miracles performed by Sadhus, think of pulling trucks with their genitals. Nevertheless, if you prefer not partaking in any of such acts, you can least experience the power of humanity and mass belief of the superior.

When: January 14 to April 27, 2021

Where: Haridwar

Bhakti Festival: To surround yourself with nature and spiritual ambience in a festival dedicated to music

Bhakti Sangeet Fest A three-day event filled with devotion and Sufism, Bhakti Festival or Sangeet is solely dedicated to music. The word bhakti itself describes devotion thus, you may get a fair idea what you can expect from this event. There will be devotional songs and a religious gathering in one of Delhi’s popular places at Nehru Park in Chanakyapuri. What’s even amazing is that you will be surrounded by nature making the entire even more spiritual.

When: April

Where: Nehru Park, Delhi

Sufi Zikr: To be enlightened by Sufi teachings by spiritual guru, Shaykh Burhanuddin

Shaykh Burhanuddin Sufi Zikr Spend an enlightening evening with Shaykh Burhanuddin and learn about the Sufi paths of Islam and spiritual maturation. But who is Shaykh Burhanuddin? He is a deep soul reader who is a mystic and spiritual teacher from Germany and also an author of three books on Sufism. He was taught about Sufi practices by one of the grand masters of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, Mawlana Sheikh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani. During the spiritual event of Sufi Zikr, there will be dance and music with lots of chanting divine prayers or phrases. You’ll certainly feel energetic power surrounding you making you open up to your inner self.

When: February 23, 6:00 – 20:00

Where: Zorba – The Buddha, Delhi

Matho Nagrang Festival: To learn about the predictions of the future performed by different oracles

Matho Nagrang Festival Celebrated on the 15th day of the 1st month in the Tibetan calendar, the festival of Matho Nagrang marks to be an auspicious festival in Ladakh. The event is held every year in the only Buddhist Monastery belonging to the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism. What you can witness in this festival is traditional dance performed by monks by wearing colourful yet dramatic looking masks depicting different forms of Gods. This two-day event’s main motive is to ask for future predictions by the monks/oracles and this alone excites the locals and even travellers to be a part of this event and hear about the future happenings. And what is even more thrilling is that one can get a one on one interaction to seek advice.

When: February 18 – 19

Where: Matho Monastery, Leh in Ladakh

Shakti Festival: To explore self as a woman and learn about one’s capabilities through multidimensional ways

Shakti Fest Delhi What makes Shakti Festival different is because it focuses on a powerful circle of women where the divine feminine can express her inner self through multidimensional ways. It unveils the practices of Sufi, Tantric, Taoist and Shamanic through which one can explore sensuality. Basically, this women festival allows one to awaken the inner Goddess in every individual. To think of it, Shakti Festival revolves around mysteries, transmissions, healing and therapists. There will be silent meditation, conscious touch, devotional singing and dance performances.

When: November 28 – December 03

Where: Zorba – The Buddha, Delhi

Ambubachi Mela: To witness an auspicious and unique fair that denotes the cleansing of Goddess Kamakhya

Ambubachi Mela This annual Hindu Mela is considered one of the most important festivals celebrated in the capital of Assam, Guwahati at a temple that bleeds, Kamakhya Devi Temple. It is believed that during this festival, the Hindu deity, Devi Kamakhya goes through her annual menstruation cycle, thus the temple door shuts for three days. During the three days, no worship of other idols are allowed no any farming work is done. On the fourth day, after the idol of the Goddess is bathed and various rituals are executed by the pandits, the door opens for the pilgrims. On this day, you’ll witness a melange of pilgrims coming from far and wide to seek blessings as it is when the Goddess is considered to be in her most purity form.

When: June 22 – 26

Where: Kamakhya Devi Temple, Guwahati

Tattva Festival: To let out all the impure energy and invite positivity through dance, music and interactions with like-minded people

Tattva Festival Tattva which is a Sanskrit word basically meaning reality or truth, it is a celebration of letting out your negativity and impure thoughts. Basically, this festival is all about inviting the pure elemental form of yourself and dwelling at the moment. This three days Tattva Festival gives an opportunity to an individual to express feelings and make connections through various activities like dance, yoga, art, food, cooking, pottery-making, painting and lots of music. This festival is open to all individuals coming from different walks of life like students, working people and homemakers. Here’s a chance for you to indulge in a joyful experience at Tattva Festival. Just for your information, Tattva Festival is an alcohol-free event.

When: March 01 – 04

Where: Zorba – The Buddha, Delhi

Wow! Never knew India also has such soul-searching events, all thanks to Zorba and other spiritual platforms to host such interesting festivals. But there are also similar events around India in places like Goa, Ladakh to name some. I am sure you’ve set a goal in your mind to attend such fests before you die, well, you have to! In fact, if you are planning to visit India, you can contact us at (info@tourmyindia.com / +91-9212777223) for best holiday deals and tour packages. Also, give us a big like and follow for more travel blogs on India.

Published: 13 Mar, 2018
Abhishek Gurung

About

Abhishek Gurung is a writer whose passion for food and travel is an unending affair. He likes going on treks and camping in the woods, loves exploring forts and architecture, he is a cycle enthusiast who likes to contribute something to the environment, travel photography and videography is another interest as he sees life in a cinematic point of view. He likes the idea of living in offbeat destination where the mode of communication is to interact with each other. Coming from Nagaland, he has visited some beautiful valleys and remote villages and appreciates nature as it is and as it should be.

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