The ancient spiritual city of Rishikesh witnessed an extraordinary convergence of devotion, bhakti yoga practice, music, and cultural exchange during the five-week Rishikesh Kirtan Fest 2025, which concluded on March 25 after captivating tens of thousands of participants from across the globe. Under the spiritual guidance of Vaishnava leader Indradyumna Swami, the festival transformed the banks of the sacred Ganges River into a vibrant celebration of devotional chanting that bridged traditional practices with contemporary spiritual seekers.

The festival, which began on February 20, quickly established itself as one of the most significant spiritual gatherings in the region, with daily attendance surpassing organizers’ expectations as both international visitors and local Rishikesh residents—from seasoned yogis to curious tourists—joined the celebrations.

Here We Go Again! 2025 Rishikesh Kirtan Fest.

In his opening address that set the tone for the five-week spiritual immersion, Indradyumna Swami articulated the festival’s essence: “Rishikesh has been a holy abode since time immemorial. As our 5-week Kirtan Fest unfolds each day, we invite our guests to immerse themselves in a profound spiritual experience. From numerous workshops, face decorations, henna painting, and the option to purchase books for deeper reflection, there is much to explore. However, the heart of the festival is kirtan – hours and hours of joyful chanting and dancing. Of course, no festival is complete without a feast, and each evening our guests savour a delicious 8-course meal. In essence, it’s a festival for the soul!”

This vision manifested daily at the historic Anandham Ashram in Tapovan, the upper region of Rishikesh, an area renowned for its spiritual significance. “This is Tapovan in Rishikesh, where a lot of great sages meditated and performed austerities for hundreds of thousands of years. So we are doing this great Yajna, this Kirtan Yajna here in Tapovan,” explained a representative of Indradyumna Swami in an exclusive interview with ISKCON News.

The festival’s strategic location was no accident. As the representative further elaborated, “The specialty of this place is that a lot of Westerners come here to do their yoga courses, to stay here, to do their teacher’s training. This area is full of yoga schools, and it’s mainly where a lot of Westerners are in Rishikesh, near Lakshman Jhula.

A Vision Five Years in the Making
The Rishikesh Kirtan Fest represents the fulfillment of a vision that began in 2020, when Indradyumna Swami organized the first such gathering. “The whole intention of Maharaj was that he wanted to give the Kirtan culture to the whole world because the whole world was coming here to Rishikesh,” the representative shared. “Many were sincere seekers, but they didn’t really know what they were looking for. They were trying to find something, but there were so many things going on that people were just getting lost. So Maharaj decided to give the Bhagavad Dharma, the Kirtan Dharma to everyone in one place.”

That vision has clearly succeeded. “From day one, we have about four to five to six hundred people coming every day. It’s a massive hit in Rishikesh. Everyone knows about it, and everyone loves coming here,” the representative noted. What’s perhaps most remarkable is that “the whole festival is completely free, not a single penny is charged from anyone,” despite the extensive programming and daily feasts.

Celebrating Gaura Purnima festival in Rishikesh.

Each day at the festival followed a carefully designed structure that balanced devotional practices with educational opportunities. Mornings began with “Wisdom of the Sages,” a philosophy class by the renowned speaker Kaustubha Das that provided an intellectual foundation for the experiential aspects of the program.

Throughout the day, kirtans led by some of the world’s most accomplished devotional musicians created an atmosphere of spiritual immersion. “We have some of the best kirtaneers from all over the world,” the festival representative explained. “We have Madhava Das, Gauravani Das, Baddha Hari Das, Indradyumna Swami, Shri Prahlad, Bibi Govinda Swami, Prem Anjali, Radhika Das—such amazing kirtaneers brought together in one place for five weeks.”

Afternoons featured diverse workshops that provided practical engagement with various aspects of Vaishnava culture. “We have kartal workshops, music workshops, mehendi workshops, art workshops that allow participants to enter the Hare Krishna lifestyle, the Vedic lifestyle, in a more practical way,” noted the representative.

March 6th kirtan sessions.

Each evening concluded with an elaborate vegetarian feast prepared by graduates of the Mayapur Gurukul, a traditional Vaishnava educational institution. “We’re serving over 500 Westerners, 500 guests, a seven-course prasadam every single day,” the representative shared, highlighting the logistical achievement of feeding such large numbers with sanctified food.

A particularly significant moment came during Maha Shivaratri, when festival organizers demonstrated the inclusive spirit of Vaishnava practice by honoring Lord Shiva with special ceremonies. Indradyumna Swami explained the spiritual significance: “On the auspicious day of Maha Shivaratri, we held a joyful celebration in honor of Lord Shiva at our Rishikesh Kirtan Fest. Three hundred guests attended our program featuring a talk glorifying Lord Shiva, an abhisheka (bathing ceremony) of a large Shiva lingam, kirtan and the chanting of sacred mantras. It was truly a sacred event! In Hari-bhakti vilasa verse 195, Sanatana Goswami says: ‘Lord Shiva is the topmost Vaishnava. Therefore, every Vaishnava should observe the vow of Shiva Ratri.'”

Maha Shivaratri Celebrations at Rishikesh Kirtan Fest 2025.

What makes the festival particularly impactful is its role as an entry point for many spiritual seekers. “For a lot of them, it’s the first time attending kirtan, first time coming to Rishikesh, first time even just hearing anything about Krishna,” the representative explained. “This is a place where we’re able to give all of that in one place.”

Emma Donaldson, an architect from Australia attending her first kirtan event, reflected: “I came to Rishikesh for yoga teacher training and heard the kirtan one evening as I was walking along the river. Something about the music drew me in, and I’ve returned every day since. There’s a depth to this experience that goes beyond entertainment—it feels like coming home to something I didn’t know I was missing.”

The festival’s expanding popularity has created its own challenges. “The hall here can only hold 250 people, but we have over 500 to 600 people coming every single day,” noted the representative, highlighting both the logistical challenges and the remarkable appeal of the event.

The festival showcased the evolution of kirtan as both an ancient spiritual practice and a dynamic contemporary art form. Traditional instruments like mridanga drums, kartalas, and harmoniums formed the foundation, while some evening sessions incorporated subtle elements of world music influences that helped make the experience accessible to newcomers.

This balance of tradition and accessibility reflected Indradyumna Swami’s decades of experience in presenting Krishna consciousness worldwide. Having led spiritual festivals across six continents since the 1970s, his approach combines unwavering dedication to traditional Vaishnava principles with a gift for creating approachable entry points for people from diverse backgrounds.

Dr. Samira Patel, a religious studies scholar observing the festival, noted: “We’re seeing something quite remarkable here—a beautiful integration of traditional Vaishnava practices with accessibility for newcomers. The festival creates space where someone practicing yoga for physical benefits can naturally transition into exploring deeper spiritual dimensions through kirtan.”

Workshop with Sacinandana Swami at the festival.

The economic and cultural impact on Rishikesh was substantial, with local businesses reporting significant increases in activity throughout the five-week celebration. Hotels, restaurants, and shops selling spiritual items experienced a welcome boost during what would typically be a transitional period between winter and peak spring tourism.

Long-time practitioners also found renewal in the unique environment. Gopinath Das, who has practiced Krishna consciousness for fifteen years, observed: “Chanting in Rishikesh, where the spiritual vibration has been cultivated for thousands of years, creates an especially potent experience. The combination of sacred location, dedicated leadership from Indradyumna Swami, and the critical mass of sincere participants has created something truly extraordinary.”

As the festival concluded with a grand 24-hour kirtan on March 25, participants reflected on its lasting significance. Beyond the immediate experience of community and devotional immersion, many described a deepened commitment to bringing spiritual practices into their daily lives.

“What we’ve created here isn’t meant to stay only in Rishikesh,” shared kirtan leader Ananda Govinda Das during the closing ceremony. “The real success will be measured by how these sacred sounds continue to vibrate in our hearts and communities when we return home—how the spiritual awakening experienced here manifests in practical compassion and devotion in our everyday lives.”

For the city of Rishikesh—long known as the “Yoga Capital of the World”—the festival represented a beautiful affirmation of its continuing relevance as a center for spiritual seekers. As one local sadhu observed while watching thousands dance and chant along the twilight-bathed banks of the Ganges: “The faces change, but the search remains the same. In every age, sincere hearts come to these sacred waters seeking connection with the divine.”

You can watch a beautifully filmed summary on the spiritual impact of the festival aquí.

With the overwhelming success of this year’s gathering, organizers have already begun planning for Rishikesh Kirtan Fest 2026, with hopes of further expanding its reach while preserving the intimate spiritual experience at its core.

All glories to the divine process of congregational chanting. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, whose vision for sharing Krishna consciousness continues to blossom worldwide.

To learn more about the Rishikesh Kirtan Festival, please visit their sitio web, Facebooky Instagram. For more insights into the spiritual journeys and teachings of Indradyumna Swami, visit his official sitio web and his travel journal.

Photos courtesy of Intradyumna Swami.