Kirtan Fest Aotearoa

Kirtan Fest Aotearoa Kirtan Fest is a heart opening drop into ourselves through chanting together

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24/08/2026

Dreaming of camping beneath beautiful trees, with the sound of sacred chanting floating through the air?

At Kirtan Fest Aotearoa, this is your reality. Wake up in nature, wander over for kirtan, grab a cacao or chai, and settle into a weekend of kirtan, connection and joy.

More info here: Kirtan Fest Aotearoa https://share.google/KVTvmNKwnmq3xJI1o

Brrrr... it feels like we've been transported to Antarctica today! The fire is roaring, the soil is cold, and it feels l...
13/08/2026

Brrrr... it feels like we've been transported to Antarctica today! The fire is roaring, the soil is cold, and it feels like snow could fall at any moment.
Which makes it almost impossible to imagine that in just a few months we'll be gathering under the summer sun, singing our hearts out at Kirtan Fest Aotearoa. ☀️
When the days are short and winter feels endless, I find myself thinking about Kirtan Fest. It's my happy place. A place where music, laughter, shared meals, friendship and heartfelt chanting weave together into something truly special. It reminds me that summer always returns... and so does this beautiful community.
As we prepare for 2–5 January 2027 at Strathean Retreat, Ōtaki, we're beginning to gather our amazing team of Karma Yogis. These are the wonderful volunteers who help make the festival possible by offering a few hours of service each day while becoming part of the heart of the festival community.
If you're local, reliable, enjoy working as part of a team, and would love to contribute to something meaningful, Anna and I love would totally to hear from you.
Find out what's involved and apply here:
https://www.kirtanfest-aotearoa.nz/practical-info
Here's to warmer days, open hearts, and singing together again soon. Adhyatma❤️🙏

🌿 Dancing Chi Movement Meditation with BillyThe final morning of Kirtan Fest Aotearoa 2027 ✨As our festival journey come...
13/08/2026

🌿 Dancing Chi Movement Meditation with Billy

The final morning of Kirtan Fest Aotearoa 2027 ✨

As our festival journey comes towards its close, join Billy for a gentle and embodied morning of Dancing Chi Movement Meditation.

We’ll begin with Chi Gong self-massage to awaken the body, stimulate circulation and open the meridian pathways, creating space for the natural flow of Chi.

From there, we’ll explore movement, breath and awareness practices that invite us to connect more deeply with our body, mind and soul ... moving, sensing and listening to the wisdom within.

A beautiful opportunity to integrate, ground and reconnect after the richness of the festival, before we head back out into the world.

We’ll finish our journey together with a guided Chakra Meditation, settling into stillness and allowing the experience to land.

Come as you are.
Move. Breathe. Feel. Be. 🌿

Dancing Chi Movement Meditation with Billy
✨ Kirtan Fest Aotearoa 2027 — Final Morning ✨

We’d love to share this closing journey with you.
https://www.kirtanfest-aotearoa.nz/

One of the questions we're sometimes asked is, "Why do you hold Kirtan Fest at Strathean?"The answer is simple: because ...
24/07/2026

One of the questions we're sometimes asked is, "Why do you hold Kirtan Fest at Strathean?"
The answer is simple: because it feels right.... AND we both had the vision at separate times for this. It was totally meant to be.
The old forest, the birds, the wide open lawns and peaceful bush invite us to slow down and take a deeper breath. There's a good atmosphere.
There is space here...to wander beneath the trees, to sit quietly with a cup of chai, to reconnect with old friends, or to strike up a conversation with someone you've only just met. It feels less like a venue and more like a place that welcomes you.
It caters for young and not so young with retreat level accomodation and camping.
Kirtan is about more than music. It's about being present, connected and opening on a heart level. We've found that Strathean holds these qualities beautifully. The whenua holds the space we envisaged so easily.
Can't wait to gather there again this January.
If you've been to Strathean before, what's one thing you love most about it? We'd love to hear in the comments.

When people ask how much work Kirtan Fest takes to create. The answer is... a lot! But we totally know why we do it. It...
19/07/2026

When people ask how much work Kirtan Fest takes to create. The answer is... a lot! But we totally know why we do it. It is so pure, so simple and so nourishing gathering together to sing, share meals, laugh, rest and reconnect. In this busy world, creating spaces like this feels more important than ever to us.
What keeps us going is knowing that, for many people, these few days become the highlight of their year and we are so looking forward to it again! Bring it on!

https://www.kirtanfest-aotearoa.nz/gallery

Some people have asked us about the tradition of kirtan?At Kirtan Fest, some of our facilitators are/were into tradition...
01/07/2026

Some people have asked us about the tradition of kirtan?
At Kirtan Fest, some of our facilitators are/were into traditions where kirtan has been practiced for generations. Others found it later in life, through yoga, meditation, or community. Our paths are all different. But the roots of kirtan are not.
Kirtan comes from the devotional traditions of India. It carries thousands of years of philosophy, music, poetry, and spiritual practice. We honour this history with gratitude, respect, and curiosity.

At the same time, the practice itself has always been about bringing people together through the shared experience of singing. You don't need to speak Sanskrit. You don't need to follow a particular path. And best of all, you don't even need to think you can sing.

As we've seen, research is beginning to validate what we've known for years. Singing together can calm the nervous system, increase feelings of connection, reduce stress, improve mood, and even synchronise our heart rhythms and breathing. So great the science is catching up with the wisdom.
So whether you arrive with decades of devotional practice or this is your very first experience, you're so welcome.

Come with respect. Come with an open heart. Come as you are.

#
https://www.kirtanfest-aotearoa.nz

27/06/2026

During these cold mid-winter days, we are remembering the beautiful summer days of Kirtan Fest.

Early Bird tickets finish on the 30th June, don't miss out!

Hoping you all had a wonderful Solstice.
23/06/2026

Hoping you all had a wonderful Solstice.

We're putting extra love and attention into our Children's Programme for Kirtan Fest 2027, and we're delighted to share ...
21/06/2026

We're putting extra love and attention into our Children's Programme for Kirtan Fest 2027, and we're delighted to share that this year the kids will have their very own bell tent space to gather, create, rest, connect, and explore.

We're also weaving in specially selected sound journeys designed just for children, offering moments of calm, imagination, wonder, and deep listening amidst the magic of the festival.

Alongside this, we'll have a beautiful range of creative activities, nature-based play, crafts, games, and opportunities for connection throughout the weekend.

We know that when children feel welcomed, inspired, and included, the whole community benefits. Our intention is to create spaces where young hearts can flourish while parents and caregivers enjoy the festival knowing their children are also having a meaningful and enriching experience.

We can't wait to share more of what's taking shape behind the scenes. It's all coming together beautifully. 💛

We are on the look out for a karma yogi extraordinaire for the kids programme if you are interested please email [email protected]
https://www.kirtanfest-aotearoa.nz/

Jason Hotton | Mystic Creative is a creative visionary, musician, community builder, and lifelong explorer of conscious...
18/06/2026

Jason Hotton | Mystic Creative is a creative visionary, musician, community builder, and lifelong explorer of consciousness. Through his work with Mystic Creative, he weaves together sound, creativity, connection, and personal transformation, creating spaces where people can reconnect with themselves, each other, and something greater. His background spans music, visual arts, filmmaking, men's work, coaching, community living, and consciousness-based practices, bringing a unique depth and authenticity to everything he offers.

Passionate about the intersection of creativity, spirituality, and human potential, Jason is known for his ability to inspire meaningful connection and invite people into deeper presence, possibility, and wonder.

At Kirtan Fest, Jason will be supporting our kirtan with his drumming, forest drumming circle and sound journey.

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Strathean Retreat Centre
Otaki
5512

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