India Bhakti Yatra (Pilgrimage) - 2025!
Where are we going?
The dates of this trip are January 24th-Februry 9th. People are welcome to come on the 10-day part of the trip or for the entire 16 days.
The first part of this yatra will be the 4 day trip to Varanasi, city on the banks of the Ganga. Thousands of years old and Known as the city of Shiva, Kashi is one of the holiest cities in the Hindu tradition. Even walking barefoot on the grounds at Varanasi is extremely powerful. We will visit beautiful temples here and the spots where saints spent time. We get to go out on the water in Varanasi for aarti (fire) ceremony and it is an incredible experience.
After that, we will go to The Kumbha Mela at Allahabad (Prayagraj).
Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred Pitcher) is the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth, during which participants bathe or take a dip in a sacred river. Devotees believe that by bathing in the Ganges one is freed from sins liberating her/him from the cycle of birth and death. The Kumbha Mela happens only once every 12 years. The Kumbh Mela at Allahabad is held in the month of Magh when Jupiter is in Aries, and Sun and Moon are in Capricorn; or Jupiter is in Taurus, and Sun in Capricorn. Millions of spiritual seekers come, including many sects of yogis, ascetics and wanderers that one would rarely meet on any other occasion.
It is definitely a rare opportunity and very auspicious to attend such an event.
After Kumbha Mela we will spend a 3 nights in the holy City of Lucknow, completing the first 10 days of the trip.
Those of us going on would leave for Chitrakoot and Ahyodya – Two holy places where Lord Rama, one of the principles Gods in India spent time. Ram’s story is told in the Ramayana, essentially a Bible to many Hindu’s, and is the same story that Hanuman the monkey comes from, who is the perfect servant or Ram (God). Ram lived in India in a past age (Treta Yuga) and his kingdom was in Ahyodya. He spent time in the forest in Chitrakoot while in exile. Ram represents God, the formless, the ultimate reality, while his beloved wife Sita is the mother, the Shakti or energy of the universe, the varied forms of the world. (In the Hindu tradition all things in form including my body and yours are the mother)
Ram is an Incarnation of Vishnu – The Soul of the unvierse, and Sita Born daughter of the Earth – is an incarnation of Lakshmi, Vishnu’s wife
Many of the powerful chants and mantras in India such as the Hanuman Chalisa, Shri Ram Jai Ram, and repeating Ram’s name for liberation of the soul, come from this story.
After leaving Ahyodya we will be provided a flight back to Delhi to then return home.
What to expect?
In India it is best to surrender and let go of all expectations, but to get an idea I will write a bit here. Throughout the stays we will have space provided where I will offer practices such as meditation, pranayama, chanting, kundalini yoga, and reading of sacred texts. We will also have kirtan wallahs to chant with!
Why are we going?
If you think of Christians visiting Israel and the places Christ went, or Muslims going on pilgrimage to Mecca you can get the idea. A Spiritual yatra through going outward brings you inward. We go in the spirit of Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of love to the ancient and sacred lands of India about which my guru says “India is a golden bird, it is a land of saints and sages.”
Although we have good accommodations the trip will still be challenging and being in this container of love and purification will bring up challenges, so it is only for those who are prepared for this. When we enter India in this space together the spiritual guides in a sense arrange a pressure cooker and container for us to grow during this time. We go to deepen our own spiritual practices, to study, learn, grow and ultimately connect to the deepest space of our heart. I can say safely that either during or after the trip you will most likely feel a great transformation and increase in your vibration. Anyone who feels called is welcome to come, but we are looking for those who really want to do the work and immerse themselves in this yatra.
Who are we going with?
We are going with Pintu! Our beloved teacher, guide and friend. Pintu regularly guides trips for well-known Bhakit musicians such as Krishna Das, Trevor Hall, Nina Rao and many members of the Ram Dass community. He has been guiding spiritual tours exclusively for over a decade and working in the field for 20 years. Pintu truly makes the trip as he is truly a reflection of Maharaji’s love. He also takes perfect care of our hotels, transportation, food and everything included so that we can all focus on our own soul work during this time.
You can find Pintu on Facebook , Business Page , Instagram
Pricing includes your room, 3 meals a day, all transportation on the trip, our guide, retreat practices and everything ELSE
10 DAY YATRA
Double or Single Room-
Double Room: $2,500
-
Single Room: $3,000
6 DAY YATRA
Double or Single Room-
Double Room: $1,450
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Single Room: $1,700
FULL TRIP
Double or Single Room-
Double Room: $3,750
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Single Room: $4,600
To secure your trip booking, a 50% payment is required by September 14th, with the remaining 50% due by December 14th. In the event of trip cancellation on our side, a full refund will be issued. However, if you opt to cancel voluntarily, a refund of only 40% of your payment will be provided because of the intricate pre-booking processes and international transactions involved, particularly with funds wired to India.
While we do not automatically issue contracts, upon request, we can furnish a typed and signed agreement for your peace of mind.
For those requiring financial flexibility, we are open to discussing tailored payment plans, with the total price remaining unchanged. We are committed to accommodating your needs regarding payment schedules.
Payment options include Zelle, check, Venmo, or cash.
The quoted price covers transportation back to Delhi following both Yatras. Accommodation for those nights (if needed), is not included. Should you depart earlier for any reason, transportation back to Delhi will be charged separately.
Please note that flights must be arranged independently. Booking in advance is advised to secure lower fares; early booking can significantly reduce costs (prices can vary from over $1500 to as low as $600). Please be aware of potential typos or changes in booking fees.
Further details, including flight schedules and E-visa procedures, will be provided to confirmed participants.