Festival of Lights

This journey is a great opportunity to participate in two amazing and large–scale festivals of Indian culture and two amazing holidays at once: Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, Kartik and Govardhana Puja.

Diwali is the time when Rama was welcomed home after 14 years of being exiled. The whole city of Ayodhya yearned for its king. People lit thousands of lamps to greet Sita, Rama and Lakshman, who returned victorious. Diwali is a celebration of reunion with the Beloved Lord and the end of a long painful separation from Him.

Lakshmi Puja is one of the largest celebrations honoring Maha Lakshmi and the culmination of the entire five–day Diwali Festival. On this day, temples and houses in India hold a special puja for Ma, and the cities are illuminated by countless small oil lamps and fireworks.

Kartik Festival in Vrindavan is celebrated especially vividly. Everything here these days is decorated with colorful rangoli and lights, and it seems that even the air is getting thicker from Love.

‘Many of Lord Krishna’s beautiful childhood lilas happened during the month of Kartik. When Krishna was playing those mischievous lilas, He was reminding us that it is important to always think of Him and to put Him first in everything. This is the most important message of the month of Kartik – to make Him the centre of your life and to focus on Him.’

Swamini Vishwamohini

Govardhana Puja. Five thousand years ago, Krishna raised Govardhan Hill on His little finger, giving protection to people from the enraged Indra. For seven days they celebrated, performed pujas and sang with Krishna. The Lord protected them, while the storm was raging outside the hill. And when it ended with Indra’s repentance, the residents of Vraja held the largest and most beautiful ceremony of worshiping the Lord in the form of Govardhan.

On this journey we will visit three beautiful cities of northern India:

Vrindavan is a place where love lives in its highest manifestation. Here Lord Krishna dances an endless Rasa dance with Radha and His gopis, here ma Yasoda scolds and kisses little Krishna in vain attempts to raise her beloved disobedient son, here He frolics with gopas and grazes His cows…

Jaipur is an amazing ‘pink’ city, which is famous for stories about noble and valiant Rajputs. Many self-manifested deities from around India were brought here during the Mogols invasion to be protected. Many of these deities have magnificent temples built here, and only a few deities were returned to their historical sites.

Agra – here we will see the outstanding architectural monument of India, the magnificent royal tomb – the Taj Mahal.

Join us on a journey to the holy places under the guidance of a very wise, albeit such a young Swami. And may Gurudev and the sensitivity and knowledge of Swami Chidananda guide you on this journey.

Swami Chidananda

Swami Chidananda is a spiritual educator and monk initiated in the Hari Bhakta Lineage, holding the distinguished title of Swami.

With guidance from his Teacher, Paramahamsa Vishwananda, and the study of scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Swami has gained a deep understanding of the science of Yoga and has devoted his life to helping others on their inner journey.

Before entering the spiritual path, he had a successful career as an investment banker and entrepreneur. Now, he uses his experiences to convey the ancient Yoga Systems in a relatable and accessible way for those seeking to reconcile Western and Eastern philosophies.