The Movement Of Yoga - Interview With Bhakti Fest Creator Sridhar Silberfein

       According to the Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance - A 2016 report states the number of US yoga practitioners is more than 36 million individuals. Accessories spending in the Yoga industry is now over $16 billion!

But behind all of this is the actual movement of practitioners and enthusiasts. They’re the ones who attend yoga studios, retreats and even perform at home. A select group decide to take it to another level and attend festivals. One of the pioneer festivals in North America is Bhakti Fest. The festival generates many thousands of people at each of their festivals around the country!

We spoke to the founder Sridhar Silberfein on why he created this festival, what they have planned this year and habits entrepreneurs can use in their life!

1. What first inspired you to do Bhakti Fest?

My first inspiration came from all of the years we had been hosting many great saints at our center in Topanga, California. This was a time spanning from 1992-2004. Dating back to the early days with Sw Muktananda, Sw. Satchidananda, Ammachi, Kalu Rimpoche and many others, we always were the go to organization that had the blessings and abilities to bring saints and teachers from India and other places into USA. This is where Ram Dass, Jai Uttal, and Krishna Sas started to become very well known.

Moreover, when I was asked by the producers of Woodstock in July of 1969 to help create the spiritual aspect of Woodstock, I invited swami Satchidananda, the leading hatha yogi teacher in the USA at that time. We flew him in by helicopter and when we walked on the stage together he looked at this mass of crowds 500,000, and was astonished.

I then said to him “swami, someday we will have folks from all over coming to gather to chant the names of the divine. and practicing yoga.”

He said. “oh Sridhar,I hope that day comes soon.”

However, it took me 40 yers and almost to the day in Sept 2009 we had the first Bhakti Fest.

2. What is the business model? How has it sustained over the years?

The business model is that it is not a business. It is run by a non profit foundation called the center for spiritual studies, inc, and we try to raise money for various charities that are aligned with our goals and thinking. As you know it is not an easy field to work in, you are dealing with a lot of variables and it takes a lot of concern and concentration to be able to handle it all. Fortunately for me, I have a great staff that understands the genre and is able to make each festival the best place to be.

3. The first sign or experience when launched you knew this was too stay?

When we first started, I saw how many folks came and were yearning for this environment. They were yearning for spiritual community, to join together with love and compassion. I knew then that this festival would work.

4. What's your take on the US cultural interest in Yoga and Meditation?

The interest in the USA with yoga has been misdirected for many years. Now that it has gone mainstream with big money involved it has lost a lot of the essence. Yoga is not a fashion statement or a excuse to go to gym or something like that.

Yoga is a way of life that encompasses many aspects. Sure the physical attributes are there, but the deeper the practice the deeper one can go in letting go of old traits, old habits, habits that are constantly rearing their ugly heads and trying to recapture us into the dark side.

Through yoga and mediation, one can see some light at the end of the darkness and go toward that light and be a happier person.

It’s not in how much running around we do, or how many clothes, cars, women/men, money we have. It is way past that. It’s how much love we share, how much compassion we have for our fellow man and how well we can forgive, forgive each other and forgive ourselves.

5. Which authors and teachers you feel have pioneered the movement?

Ram Dass of course stands out as the pioneer of the spiritual movement here in the USA. Him, Alan Watts, Allen Ginsburg, Manley Hall, are all great thinkers. They’re able to put their thoughts into words that the world could understand with some clarity.

6. What's the next step for Bhakti Fest?

Well we have been invited to China, Europe, Asia, and many other places in the USA. Personally, I am working to pass the baton to the next group that will hold the light, hold the vision and do what’s right in the world.

7. Why is this upcoming event in Joshua Tree different than the rest?

This upcoming Bhakti Fest is really the world class of yoga/music festivals. We have two stages of sacred music, one of which goes 24 hrs a day for 3 days. This is unheard of in the festival genre. We have three yoga halls teaching all modalities of yoga from 7am-7pm.

We have three workshop halls from 9am-7pm, with the top spiritual teachers. We have a women lodge where only women are allowed in, and taught by spiritual elder women on topic that they would not be able to talk about usually with a male.

We also have a meditation dome, where silent mediation will be going on 24/7. We have sound bath dome, which is located in two areas, ongoing on from 10am-8pm, and then it gets moved to the hanuman stage- where it will be ongoing until the wee hours of the morning. We have 12 of the top food vendors in the country. all natural, organic foods being offered and all vegetarian.

There is no alcohol served at this festival, so it makes it safe for families to come and introduce there kids to yoga, and chanting. We also, have a sweet kids land that teaches yoga, music and arts/grafts.

8. Tell us about your own spiritual practice like? Any rituals you want to share?

My practices have been ongoing for the last 50 yrs. I still get up in the morning to do my meditation in my private areas. I highly recommend all those who want to advance somewhat to have their own private area that they can retreat to in their apt, in their house, that is not available to kids, wives/husbands etc.). This is your own private space, where you juice up the environment, and keep it that way. After my mediation, i do one hour of yoga practice/breathing and then I start my day with a natural smoothie with all my goodies.

After all these years I have come to realize that there will not be any great bombshell where someone taps you on the head and you are instantly enlightened. You really have to work for everything, even with your Sadhana and everything outside of that.

9. How can mindfulness and meditation help entrepreneurs and meditation?

In the business world it has been shown that meditation is playing an integral part in decision making and keeping the workplace in a sound sweet compassion place. By having the proper outlook, and coming from a more centered place, one of which encompasses love, harmony, compassion and caring, it will transform any workplace into a more productive space.

Check out this amazing festival by visiting here! Let me know if your coming.