Bhakti Fest, the preeminent sacred music and yoga festival dedicated to bringing spiritual and earthly empowerment to attendees and global recipients of the nonprofit festival’s charitable endeavors, will be returning to the Joshua Tree Retreat Center September 9-14.
Known internationally for hosting a massive lineup of Kirtan musicians, master yoga instructors, and spiritual teachers, Bhakti Fest draws thousands of sacred conscious explorers from the U.S. and around the world. Kirtan and reggae influenced singer/songwriter Trevor Hall, known for his hits “Brand New Day,” “The Lime Tree,” “Unity,” and others will headline the event. Other returning headliners include Grammy nominee Krishna Das who will perform one of his last shows before taking a sabbatical; Jai Uttal, with a high energy reggae and ska-influenced Kirtan set; revolutionary hip-hop artist MC YOGI; and long-time Madonna collaborator Donna De Lory.
Known as “The Spiritual Woodstock of The New Millennium”, Bhakti Fest offers nonstop sacred music performances on two stages, with Kirtan/chanting mixed in with a wide of variety of musical genres including blues, rock, pop, gospel, traditional, and hip-hop. This year’s musicians include Kirtaniyas, DJ Drez & Marti Nikko, Saul David Raye, David Newman, Sean Johnson & the Wild Lotus Band, Govind Das & Radha, Gina Sala, Karnamrita, Brenda McMorrow, Gandharvas Kirtan, Girish, Larisa Stow & Shakti Tribe, Sri Kirtan, and Pranja Vieira.
Several thousand participants will share sacred space with the world’s finest teachers of spiritual knowledge, yoga, dance, and breathwork. The festival will feature twelve hours of daily yoga classes in 4 venues, facilitated by incomparable teachers: Shiva Rea, Sianna Sherman, Saul David Raye, Yogi Cameron, Mark Whitwell, Kia Miller, Joan Hyman, Derek Beres, Tim Miller, Jennica Mills, Bhava Ram & Laura Plumb, Missy Balsam, Jessica Winderl, Erica Burkhalter and Kristin Olson, to name only a few. All levels of students are welcome—beginner and advanced yogis alike are encouraged to join! There is something for everyone.
The Bhakti Fest workshop offerings include three sessions taught by Indian spiritual leaders – Swami Chitanand from Rishikesh, Murti scholar Manoj Chalam, and fourth generation Ayurvedic doctor Yogi Dr. Amrit Raj. Also presenting are Radhanath Swami, philanthropist and author of The Journey Home, and breathwork phenomenon Michael Brian Baker whose students say his class “provides a life changing experience.” As always the annual festival will deliver an exclusive interview with Bhakti Fest elder, and spiritual icon, Ram Dass, whose book Be Here Now helped bring Eastern philosophy to the West in the 1960s.
In addition to providing festival goers with Kirtan, yoga, and consciousness-raising workshops, Bhakti Fest will offer a healing sanctuary with massage, bodywork, energy work, and other wellness enhancing modalities. Bhaktis will feast on a variety of raw, vegan, and vegetarian food and beverage options. There is always an extensive marketplace with eco-friendly, sustainable vendors who offer yoga gear, clothing, devotional art, musical instruments, CD’s, crafts, jewelry and more. Bhakti Fest’s own Bhakti Shoppe will feature highly sought-after items from the bazaars of India.
Bhakti Fest is a vegetarian, family friendly, safe environment free of alcohol and drugs. Children 12 and under are allowed in for free and there is a specific Conscious Kids Land, where children can take part in music, yoga and enlightened play.
The Joshua Tree Retreat Center offers the perfect setting for inner reflection and spiritual reconnection, with its natural high desert beauty. Accommodations onsite include dorm-style communal space, camping, and RV parking. There are also several hotels within a few miles of the retreat center.
With a world-class lineup of musicians and yoga instructors, more than 60 conscious workshops, and 100 artisan vendors, Bhakti Fest offers the most heart-opening, consciousness-raising experience of any festival on the scene today. Attendees describe the festival as “being immersed in the greatest conscious party you have ever experienced, filled with music, yoga, dancing, love, light, and heart centered community.”
Tickets for Bhakti Fest West 2015 are available at west.bhaktifest.com. Bhakti Fest is a nonprofit 501c3 organization and accepts tax-deductible donations. The festival donates a percentage of its funds to charities and other nonprofit groups that provide food, education, and environmental beautification programs around the world. These include Food for Life Vrindavan, Love Serve Remember Foundation, Ramana’s Garden, Seva Foundation, Share Your Care, and Woman’s Earth Alliance.