Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Bhakti Fest Midwest Day 3


Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati
on stage at Bhakti Fest Midwest

On the third and final day of Bhakti Fest Midwest, the sun rose quicker than festival participants. As tired Bhaktas nursed themselves with the Ayurvedic remedy and immune booster Herbal Zap, artists and teachers prepared for the full day ahead. Special guest Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati kicked off the workshops with a talk on the humanitarian efforts that Ganga Action Parivar is facilitating in support of the recent Ganga flooding. As scenes of the flood were screened, including entire hotels washing down stream, tears filled the room. The scenes were a humbling reminder that we are all at the mercy of Mother Nature.
In the nearby Yoga Hall, over 200 yogis prayed with their bodies as they flowed through Sean Johnson’s “Bhakti on the mat” yoga class. Johnson, from Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band, is just as dynamic leading a yoga class as he is leading a kirtan. Naturally, Johnson was accompanied by his band as they played harmonically along side.
Sean Johnson gets yogis to
practice Bhakti on and off the mat
As yogis tuned in to their bodies and sipped on KeVita’s probiotic drinks, the entire breathwork hall was quickly packed with participants ready to tune in to their breath with the shamanic Michael Brian Baker. Known to have his classes overflow in Joshua Tree, the scene was not much different in Madison.  On day three of Baker’s breathwork series, he led the group focused on “The Responsibility of Prayer and Healing.” Within the workshop, Baker held a sacred space for deep healing where participants entered ecstatic states. Baker led the class that ranged from first timers to Kundalini masters in effortless pranayamas (breathing) practices. Pranayama breathing techniques are excellent tools for easing anxiety, stress, anger, heat, exhaustion, and many more afflictive emotions.
As the ending of Bhakti Fest Midwest’s second annual festival was in sight, the vendor village boomed with commerce. Festival-goers picked up kirtan albums from the White Swan Records booth that sold a
Prabhuji's Gifts decking out the hospitality suite
large range of kirtan album and yoga books. Nearby, the Bhakti Shoppe rapidly ran out of official Bhakti Fest merchandise sourced directly from India. Backstage, artists took home Prabhuji Gift’s incense, perfumes, and goodies.
As evening set in, spirits raised in anticipation of the ever-eventful closing ceremony. Dave Stringer led the final and concluding kirtan in front of a fully-packed audience, sharing that with every great stories there is a beginning, middle, and end... Just not necessarily in that order. Although Bhakti Fest Midwest's time was coming to a close, the level of energy and a packed crowd suggested this was just the beginning for many on the Bhakti path of love and devotion, hungry for more chanting. When Stringer busted out the concluding chant to Goddess Durga, the crowd danced ecstatically, wildly, and freely—dancing off and letting go of all material conditioning and experiences that bind them.

And then, it was time. As 50 some odd artists, teachers, Bhakti Fest staff members, and musicians gathered on stage for the closing ceremony, Govind Das led the affair from honorary spot front and center, often held by the eternally loved and deeply missed Shyamdas who passed on earlier this year in a tragic accident in India. With Shyamdas's noticeable absence, memories of him leading the
Bhakti Fest Midwest Closing Ceremony
Image by Mitchell Manz
closing ceremony the year before softened the hearts of all. The Maha Mantra dedicated to the spirit of Shyamdas gently begun, and only in a matter of moments the stage and crowd was off to blissful states. The mic was passed around getting various artists and interpretations of the beloved chant, but when it hit the hands of Kirtaniya's Vijay Krsna, the chant quickly took a different course as "Radheee Radheee Govinda Radheeeee" exploded from his soul. Those who were present for the recent Shakti Fest saw the same transition take place, inferring that a new tradition has in fact begun. What will the 5th Annual Bhakti Fest West--the largest and grandest affair slated from the Bhakti Fest team--conclude with? Like all things worth waiting for, only time will tell…

By Vanessa Harris

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Bhakti Fest Midwest Day 2


Kitchen staff clothed in aprons from
Neem Karoli Baba's Ashram in Taos
“Love all, serve all, remember God” instructed the revered Indian saint Neem Karoli Baba. Seems simple enough, doesn’t it? When Ram Dass famously and honestly responded, “but I can’t,” Neem Karoli Baba replied poignantly, “Ram Dass, love everybody.”

Seva, a Sanskrit word that loosely translates to ‘selfless service’ is one of the main principles on which Bhakti Fest was founded. To serve with compassion and patience, we must first have love. Without the service of Bhakti Fest’s Work Exchange Program where attendees can attend the festival for free by putting in hours to help staff, the show would not go on. Hard work indeed, but rewarding nonetheless.

Govind Das from Bhakti Yoga Shala
Image by Lakshmi Grace Designs
Hanuman, the 'Hindu monkey God’ from the Sanskrit epic Ramayana, is considered by many the perfect example of selfless service and unconditional love, both to the Divine and humanity. At Bhakti Fest, it is tradition to start the Workshop Hall off with reciting the Hanuman Chalisa for an hour, a 40 verse devotional hymn in reverence of Hanuman and what it means to be of service. As Pascale from Kirtan Path led Saturday morning’s Hanuman Chalisa, a wave of gratitude polished hearts and refocused minds, preparing festival participants for the day ahead of service, whether it come in the form of work, offering kirtan, or simply interacting with one another respectfully.

Brenda McMorrow & David Newman (Durga Das)
As festival goers trickled in from Canada, the East coast, and places near and far, they were greeted with EBOOSTS, Ola Loa, and ZICO Coconut waters to keep healthy and hydrated for the day ahead filled with yoga and dancing. Back in the yoga hall, Govind Das and Radha, owners of Bhakti Yoga Shala, invoked their Bhaktified Southern California open-hearted ‘Bhav’ (mood) that they are known for into their packed yoga class. Brenda McMorrow represented the Midwest alongside David Newman (Durga Das) on main stage clad in cheese heads, while artists enjoyed the show snacking on KIND bars and drinking Reed's Ginger Beer and Kombuchas. 

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati & Jai Uttal
discuss Ganga Relief Efforts backstage
As the day transitioned to night, an earnest mood drifted over all. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji from Parmarth Niketan was scheduled to lead a meditation, but due to the unfortunate devastation from the recent flooding in India, Swamiji had to stay behind to help in relief efforts with Ganga Action Parivar. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati came on behalf of Parmarth Niketan, leading a dedicated meditation, reminding us of how truly blessed we are to be happy, healthy, and alive. Every Bhakti Festival, a portion of proceeds goes towards an associated Non-Profit. With an estimated 20,000 civilians either displaced or killed by Ganga’s flooding, it couldn't have been better alignment that Bhakti Fest Midwest's proceeds were already planned to benefit Ganga Action Parivar whose relief efforts are now focused on funding shelter and food to those hit by the recent tragedy. In the spirit of seva, festival sponsor and longtime vendor Coconut Bliss hosted a “Night of Bliss” whose proceeds benefitted Food For Life Vrindavan, a orphanage and school in India that serves over 2,000 children from the poorest community in the Vrindavan area.

Reflective of the need to serve and give thanks, Saul David Raye introduced Jai Uttal, preparing everyone of the mystical evening ahead. As all artists and staff gathered in the hospitality suite for a front row view of the Grammy nominated singer, they were nourished by Tasty Bites--all natural ready-to-eat Indian food--who catered the evening dinner.


Jai Uttal charmed the audience with his charismatic and youthful nature when both singing and explaining the significance behind each chant. Participants were mesmerized not only by Uttal’s talent and devotion, but of the young man accompanying Uttal. An already familiar face to many, the kirtan wallah alongside Jai was none other than the Kirtaniya’s front man Vijay Krsna. Having popped in to sing kirtan and play the harmonium, mrdunga, and anything else you could think of in various yoga classes, workshops, and kirtan sets throughout the weekend, the enthusiasm and devotion ensuing
Jai Uttal & Company
from Vijay is indicative that the youngster will be leading the Bhakti path for generations to come.

At the end of Jai Uttal and company’s three hour performance, everyone in the crowd had either danced, cried, laughed, or all of the above. Wah! closed the main stage with her funky base and fire hooopers, embodying the queen of cool.

Wah! On stage at Bhakti Fest Midwest
Image by Lakhsmi Grace Designs
As midnight struck, Srikalogy--a newbie on the kirtan scene--reinvented the wheel mixing sacred mantras with freestyle raps and beat boxing along side DJ Taz from Club Divine at the late night Devotional Kirtronica Dance Party.  Present Bhaktis danced till they dropped into downward facing dog, winding down for rest and the final day ahead of Bhakti Fest Midwest.

By Vanessa Harris

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Bhakti Fest Midwest Day 1


Madison’s explosive Fourth of July fireworks on Thursday evening certainly seemed to set the tone of Bhakti Fest Midwest, as the opening day on the following morning was filled with many snaps, crackles, pops. Amy and the Bliss tribe, a local ensemble from Chicago, led the first kirtan set on main stage at the Second Annual festival with her trademark Midwestern hospitality. As “Sita Ram” and “Jai Ma” began reverberating throughout the endless fields at the hosting Alliant Energy Center, chills coursed up and down spines of attendees, artists, teachers, and staff alike as all knew Bhakti Fest’s highly anticipated return to the Midwest had finally arrived after a year long wait for the largest all-star yoga and kirtan cast the Midwest had ever seen.  For those on the Bhakti path, this is no small feat as the devotional practice of kirtan has yet to make its way in mainstream culture in the Western world.


StandUp Paddleboarding
Image by Mitchell Manz
As Bhakti Fest Midwest’s beautiful abode began to pulse with chanting, yoga classes, and workshops, a few gathered around the serene Willow Island where two new sensations on the Yoga circuit were taking place. YogaSlackers set up their one inch lines where those who dared were asked to test their balance, concentration, and even humility amidst the noise—one of the ever confronting aspects that draws so many to Yoga. Meanwhile, StandUp Paddleboarders practiced yoga on long boards on the lake itself—a much more placid environment for beginners as opposed to the challenging ocean currents. 

Coconut Bliss travels to Bhakti Fest Midwest

If you listened close enough, you could hear Yoga Shelter Eric Paskel’s music echoing afar from his yoga class. And by music, we mean Rage Against the Machine… Naturally. Yes, the innovate Paskel lead a revolutionary yoga class, where yogis and yogins confessed they sweat more than in a heated Bikram class…from dancing.  While Bhakti Fest’s classes are known to test the limit and take on a form of their own, Paskel’s class will go down in the yogic books. Needing to cool off from the summer heat, vendors HealthForce Nutritionals and Coconut Bliss combined forces to make regenerative and replenishing (coconut) milk shakes. 

           

Saul David Raye overflows Yoga Hall 1
Back to the yoga hall, Saul David Raye’s first yoga class overflowed My Yoga Online’s entire Yoga Hall 1 as the Midwest welcomed the world-renowned yoga teacher and kirtan artist back in to their arms for the short time that they get to learn from him over the weekend's course.




On main stage, Ragani initiated a hug fest in gratitude that so many people would come together to chant mantras. As she confessed, “if we weren’t here thanks to Bhakti Fest and its staff, I’d probably be chanting alone in my room right now,” many shared the same sense of appreciation. When broken down, mantra is separated into ‘mana’ meaning the mind, intellect, consciousness, or soul, and ‘tra’ meaning to free. Thus, mantras free the mind and heart. While this can be done alone, there is always a sense of unmatchable and ecstatic joy when mantras are shared in congregation. As the sun gently set behind main stage evoking a sense of presence and ease, Ragani spoke an English mantra, not quite anticipated at Bhakti Fest when she uttered “that’s what she said” into the mic. A burst of laughter spread throughout the crowd as a reminder to never take life too seriously.

GuruGanesha Band Headlines Day 1
Image by Mitchell Manz

On that note, the ever hip and multi-generational GuruGanesha Band rocked the main stage with their long beards, white turbans, and rock-n-roll guitars as Friday night's headlining act, also reminding us all to stay ever youthful and true to ourselves.  As the Sikh devotees lead the expansive crowd chanting the famous Buddhist’s Heart Sutra, a sense of universal love and respect for all spiritual practices swept over the crowd, knowing the weekend ahead would not only be life changing for some, but for the universal consciousness at large.


By Vanessa Harris