Kirtan & Bhakti pilgrimage
INDIA 2025
october 29-november 11
Dev Prayag, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Jaipur, Govardhan/Vrindavan
with Raghunath and team
BACK TO THE MOTHERLAND!
We’re going back to India for our annual pilgrimage and this time the itinerary is stellar! India is the home of yoga, mystics, mantras, sadhus, samosas, Ayurveda, and most of all: devotion and LOVE! Without a guide it’s easy to get lost in the craziness of modern India. To decipher the mystery, Raghunath will be that mentor to introduce you to spiritual India. Raghu has been visiting since 1988 and has been taking students to India since 2007! Find out why he has so many return pilgrims! The most common things he hears from pilgrims even years after visiting is, “I think of India every day”.
We’re not going to park it at some hotel, visit the gateway of India and do some asanas. This is the real deal. Raghu will take you to the holy cities and villages that have been dear to the yogis and devotees since before recorded time. This is a Bhakti Yoga adventure! There will be asana, and philosophy regularly and offer reading recommendations from books of ancient India so you can enter into the mood of a pilgrim.
More than tourism it will be a chance to learn and grow. We’ll learn meditation techniques, study sacred texts, and dine on authentic and excellent vegan/ vegetarian food. Because he has spent a lot of time in India with sadhus and saints, we will meet up with other guides, friends, Vedic astrologers, palmists, & Swamis whom some Raghunath has known intimately for years.
We’re going to deepen our understanding of yogic culture. With proper guides, India can be a portal to another time -- an ancient spiritual culture. It still exists side-by-side with the modern. As you discover it, you will consequently discover yourself a little more -- and your life will never be the same.
Hare Krishna.
SELF INVESTMENT
INDIA PILGRIMAGE: $4000 USD (includes a $500 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot; this trip will sell out!
The FEES include:
• Airport pick up & drop off
• ALL Internal travel by domestic flights/bus etc
• 2 meals a day
• Hotel shared room (private rooms available for supplemental fee).
• All yoga sessions & classes given
The Fees do NOT include:
• International airfare**
• Spending money (can be as much or as little as you like. Most places accept credit cards)
• Rickshaw rides in Vrindavan (however these are inexpensive) or for shopping
• Your visa or passport.
• A tip is appreciated for our guides if you like their help; not mandatory.
ABOUT THESE PILGRIMAGES- from Raghunath
These trips are are pilgrimages and as such, not designed to be a "vacation", but rather a yogic learning experience. Of course, you will see many places and be guided in your travels, but the focus is on spiritual growth and not just sightseeing.
India is a “developing” country. Please do not expect ANYTHING to be up to American or European standards. Students sit on the floor (if you need a chair due to health issues it can be arranged) and live simply. Many of the teachers and guest lecturers wear traditional Vaisnava dress (dhotis/robes/saris). We will visit temples, including Hare Krishna temples & ashrams. The pilgrimage includes Kirtan (group singing of traditional Sanskrit mantras). Kirtan is a key to visiting holy places, it is fun, sublime, beautiful and appreciated by the local pilgrims. as well as japa (individual chanting of mantras on meditation beads). Travel in India can involve some austerity, but our teachers and assistants are all seasoned veterans of many pilgrimages and extensive travels. All reasonable measures will be taken to provide and care for students.
We request guests to follow a codes of behavior compatible with a yogic pilgrimage. This includes eating exclusively vegetarian or vegan. No meat, fish or eggs. No illicit sexual activities on this trip. Consumption of alcohol, non-prescribed drugs and use of tobacco is not permitted. We reserve the right to ask anyone to leave the trip at any stage and without any refund for breaching this code of conduct.
Students will see many sights in exotic locations, but the primary purpose of the trip is not sightseeing. We will practice asana, japa meditation, do a lot of Kirtan, tell the stories of ancient India, chant mantras and otherwise explore the ancient yogic traditions. This training and journey has been designed to be a magical, transformative, and life-changing experience!
FOR REGISTRATION OR MORE QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT RAGHU’S ASSISTANT TARA BELOW.
