bhakti FEST

text KRISTIN WINTERS
photography ENOCH WATERS

This past autumn in mystical Joshua Tree California, the annual Bhakti Fest West had once again come to town. Hundreds gathered from around the world for this event, seeking spiritual awakening through yoga practice, Kirtan chanting and teachings from celebrated yogi leaders. Bhakti Fest is known among followers as, “The Spiritual Woodstock of The New Millennium.” Bhakti Fest West harkens back to an era of peace, love and happiness, creating an environment where people can enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded souls.

The scene is set with a bustling bazaar, glittered with incense and crystals, yogi wear, tarot and palm readers, with ambient world music playing in the background. Delicious aromas of Indian vegan cuisine waft through the air, delighting the senses, transporting you to an otherworldly place. The grounds are illuminated with bright smiles and joyful embraces of newly found friends, walking hand in hand along the meandering path from one workshop to the next. There were countless events to attended, but a few come to mind that portray the essence of Bhakti.

The class led by Govind Das and Radha was a combination Bhakti and Vinyasa yoga session. They encouraged attendees to reach out to the yogis on the mat next to them and say, ‘hello,’ to share the space and welcome everyone of all talents and levels. By the end of the workshop the class broke out into a dance – embracing those around them, chanting and singing whether they knew the mantras or not. Each of us had become his or her childlike self, as the armor of everyday life stripped away, and all that was left was the euphoric experience.

Another fascinating workshop was Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band: Wild Lotus Story Time. The audience was moved by Sean Johnson’s delightful mythic tales, and the gorgeous sound track provided by the Wild Lotus Band. Sean Johnson evoked an innocent childlike wonder with the words: “Would you like to hear a story?” Yogis acted out parts of the stories along with him through guided chanting and yoga posses. He encouraged yogis to let go of self conscious thoughts like, “Am I doing this right? How do I look in this pose?” and to simply enjoy the sensations of the body, free of criticism.

The climax of Bhakti Fest West was the closing Kirtan workshop with Krishna Das, a leader of Kirtan and American yoga. This summit was to be his last event before his upcoming sabbatical. Yogis eagerly congregated in the Sanctuary hall to hear his beautiful voice and his seeds of wisdom. Krishna Das spoke of the joy and challenges of modern day yogis: “True spirituality makes one softhearted and humble. It doesn’t make one glimmer on the surface and all puffed up in self-importance.” He imparted personal anecdotes that were met with cries of laugher and nodding heads. Krishna Das inspired each one of us to find our own individual practice, keeping in mind the heart of yoga: gratitude, peace and service to one another.

The word, “Bhakti,” translates to: love, connection and belonging. Bhakti Fest West is more than practicing yoga against the beautiful backdrop of Joshua Tree. It is a place where seekers and believers can join in as a community, to pursue enlightenment and change the world together, one exhale at a time.

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