Where Yoga, Music And Your Soul Meet, Bhakti Fest Returns

Like a long-awaited sunrise after a night of stillness, Bhakti Fest, the beloved 3-day Yoga & Conscious Music Festival, emerges from the shadows of the pandemic to illuminate the desert landscape with its radiant energy on September 15-17, 2023. While the festival will be held in Joshua Tree as usual, it will be held at a new setting at the Joshua Tree Lake & Campground.

Known and loved for offering music all day every day, a huge variety of yoga classes, plus breathwork, sound healings, spiritual, wellness, and sustainability workshops and more, Bhakti Fest has carved its place in the hearts of countless seekers. As the festival returns in 2023, the tradition remains unbroken, as an incredible lineup of revered teachers, thought-provoking workshops, and enriching experiences eagerly await attendees. There will also be some new features to get excited about.

What’s New in 2023

“This year's Bhakti Fest has opened up to include new genres of music and talent,” said Sridhar Silberfein, founder of Bhakti Fest. “We wanted to attract a younger audience and introduce them to kirtan and yoga. This was a way to bring that into fruition.”

Guided by this ambition, the Bhakti Fest legacy has been gracefully passed to Bella Silberfein and her exceptional team. “Bella has incorporated the best of Kirtan and yoga infused with dance and upscale performers. She brought in Michael Franti and Ayla Nereo and many others,” Sridhar said. 

This evolution aims to attract a fresh wave of youthful enthusiasts who want to explore their life’s work more deeply, while steadfastly upholding Bhakti Fest's foundational principles – the very essence that has shaped the festival's identity.

Another new element at the festival is a late night venue, coined The Lakshmi Lounge. Here, the atmosphere transforms into a haven for dance music and late-night contemplation.

“Bhakti means devotion, compassion and service to all,” Sridhar said. “I personally have been blessed with spending deep intimate time with some of the great spiritual leaders of our generation. My biggest desire is to bring that philosophy, that purpose to as many folks as possible.”

Teacher Highlight: Yogrishi Vishvketu

Yogrishi Vishvketu, a world-renowned Yoga teacher trainer who has studied and practiced Yoga for more than 40 years and trained more than 5,000 yoga teachers around the world, will be returning to teach at Bhakti Fest this year. He will lead Puja, igniting the festival's spirit each morning as well as teach Classical Kundalini, a Deep Emotional Release class and Pranayama.

Yogrishi, who has been teaching at the festival for nearly a decade, expressed his admiration for the festival's ability to harmonize modern and ancient yoga practices. What truly resonates with Yogrishi about this festival, he said, is its skill in blending contemporary and age-old yoga approaches. “It fills me with immense joy to contribute more traditional teachings, as modern yoga can deviate from the intended path.” Staying on course can be a challenge, but Bhakti excels in maintaining that equilibrium, Yogrishi shared.

One such example of this is the Classical Kundalini classes he teaches versus modern Kundalini yoga. Yogrishi has his Master’s in Kundalini plus more than 40 years of practice and education and stated that modern Kundalini is “totally different than what I have been studying my whole life.” Hailing from a lineage of yogis and ayurvedic doctors, Yogrishi's connection to the path of yoga was woven into his being from an early age.

In Classical Kundalini, there is a foundational sequence performed at the beginning of each class which includes invoking the Kundalini force through prayers, initiating all 7 chakras using pranayama (connecting, activating, directing energy), waking up the spine ~ which contains the nadis (channels of the body), then balancing and activating these channels. There are some similarities in the classical versus modern practices, such as using breathwork, mantra and meditation to activate and direct the Kundalini shakti that resides at the base of our spine. 

Our energy can become out of balance due to lifestyle factors, lack of proper guidance and past life karma. We are a mix of many things but yoga harmonizes them all, Yogrishi said. “No one else is very responsible for your wellness. You have to take a step. Sadhana means: You are responsible for your well-being.” To experience the magic of Classical Kundalini for yourself, join one of Yogrishi’s classes at Bhakti. 

See the full line-up of teachers and experiences offered in 2023, here.

See you in the Desert

From sunrise to moonrise, get ready to be elevated through gatherings that inspire peace and harmony.  Between the myriad of classes and workshops, music in a wide variety of genres, an artisan vendor village, Healing Sanctuary, late night dance parties, there is something for everyone.

Grab your ticket, book a campsite or rent one of the many adorable desert inspired AirBnBs or hotels near Joshua Tree Lake & Campground and SF Yoga Mag will see you there!

“No other festival in the country brings you the depth of commitment to growing and sharing and opening up and moving off the old conditions,” founder Sridhar said. “We want folks that come to Bhakti to get a deeper understanding of life; we want to help others grow and open as well.

A richness of life has been cultivated through my daily practice of yoga and meditation while being associated with the main chanters and yoga teachers. Having the opportunity to bring them forward to share their knowledge and their work, and to see all kinds of folks getting deeper into their practice, brings me great joy.” Sridhar concluded.

Bhakti Fest Tickets

For more details, including the lineup, housing info, and to purchase passes, click HERE.