Beltane Bhakti Gathering

Devotion - Connection - Spiritual Growth

1st - 4th May 2026
Join us for a weekend of mystery, devotion, and community.

The Divine Mystery

As blossoms return and the earth breathes new life, this year’s Beltane Bhakti Gathering begins on Beltane itself, a traditional celebration of spring, renewal, and fertility, an auspicious moment to open our hearts to the great mystery of life.

Our theme this year is The Divine Mystery.

Life is never fully graspable, there is always something greater moving through us, holding us, and guiding us.

When we learn to rest in this mystery, we open to a deeper sense of trust, presence, and connection. In bowing to its vastness and allowing it to guide us in ways we cannot always understand, we can become comfortable with the unknown.

At the Beltane Bhakti Gathering, you are invited to step into this mystery for yourself. Through devotional chanting, sacred ceremony, meditation, yoga, delicious food, and chai, we come together in a joyful celebration of the larger perspective: that life is both practical and infinite, grounded and cosmic.

Festival Summary

Begins on:
Friday 1st May at 2pm

Ends on:
Monday 4th May at 1pm

Duration:
4 days / 3 nights

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Whether Bhakti is new to you or already close to your heart, you are warmly invited. Come as you are. Come to learn, to celebrate, and to experience the mystery of life in the company of a loving community.

  • 4 days of dawn to dusk chanting, dancing, prayer and connection.

  • Arriving 4 pm on Friday 1st May 2026, dinner 5pm, opening ceremony 6 pm.

  • Departing after lunch on Monday 4th May 2026.

  • Camping and indoor accommodation available.

  • Limited concession tickets available.

Hindu deity statue decorated with rose petals, with flowers, candles, and colorful decorations surrounding it on an altar.

The Pujas

During the gathering, we will share three main pujas together. These sit at the heart of the weekend — simple, devotional spaces where we come together in practice, offering, and attention.

Friday Evening — Ganesh Puja
We begin on Friday evening with a Ganesh puja, opening the space and marking the start of the gathering. Ganesh is traditionally connected with beginnings and the removal of obstacles, and this first puja helps us arrive, settle, and enter the weekend with clarity.

Saturday — Shivlingam Puja
On Saturday, we share a Shivlingam puja. Centred around Shiva and the lingam, this puja connects us with the deeper mystery of life — beyond concepts or explanations — something we can share and experience together.

Sunday — Tripura Sundari Devi Puja
On Sunday, we close with a puja to Tripura Sundari Devi. This honours the feminine aspect of the divine, often associated with beauty, harmony, and the fullness of life. It offers a gentle and beautiful way to close the gathering, with the intention of carrying something of this experience into daily life and sharing it with others.

Lord Shiva

In Hindu tradition, Lord Shiva is known as the great god of transformation, embodying both creation and dissolution. He reflects the mystery itself, the presence behind everything. Together with Shakti, the feminine power of life, he shows us that existence is both stillness and energy. At the gathering we will honour this union in a Lingam puja, offering to the stone that symbolises the infinite beyond form.

In the pujas we wash, offer perfume, feed, and honour the sacred. These are the same things we do in daily life: washing, caring, feeding, breathing, moving. These rituals remind us that nothing is separate, every act can be sacred.

A silhouette of Lord Shiva statue sitting on a mountain peak against a starry night sky with the Milky Way galaxy in the background.

During this festival we will …

  • Sing our hearts open in devotional kirtan.

  • Participate in Sacred ceremonies (Puja)

  • Explore inspiring workshops and practices.

  • Gather in community and celebration.

  • Share laughter and chai in the sunshine.

  • Wander the colourful flea market.

  • Rest in the mystery that breathes through all.

Beyond words. Beyond understanding. Within you.

People participating in a spiritual or religious ceremony, sitting on mats around a small sacred fire decorated with pink and white flowers.
Woman with braided hair and hoop earrings wearing a cozy pink jacket at an outdoor market, reaching out towards colorful figurines and decorations on a table.
A large group of people, including singers and musicians, participate in a cultural or religious celebration inside a decorated tent, with flowers and string lights. Some are singing with expressions of joy, while others are playing drums and a keyboard. Confetti is scattered on the floor, creating a festive atmosphere.

Facilitators so far, more to come!

Two smiling young women standing close together, one wearing sunglasses and holding a phone, the other wearing a black tank top, inside a room with yellow walls.

Tino & Tara (Your Hosts) - Kirtan

  • Tino and Tara grew up immersed in the teachings of Haidakhan Babaji and the practice of kirtan. Through their dedicated practice, they have been reviving traditional chants from their guru’s ashram in the Himalayas , as well as preserving mantras sung by elder devotees. We are so happy to have this next generation of bhaktas with us (who also organised this event, spending countless hours dealing with practical details so that we can be together for this gathering — love in action)

Young man seated on the ground, wearing a light-colored striped shirt, appears to be playing an electronic keyboard outdoors with autumn trees in the background.

Shyam Sundar - Kirtan

  • Shyam Sundar is a musician based in Italy. His music centers around meditation, mantras, and spirituality. He started learning music when he was fourteen, and his sounds cultivate a deep awareness of oneself while connecting with the divine. We are grateful to have Shyam with us all the way from Italy.

Two musicians perform on stage, one singing into a microphone and playing a keyboard, the other playing an acoustic guitar, in a cozy indoor setting.

Dhanyo Scholten - Kirtan

Person playing guitar and singing in front of candles in a cozy, dimly lit room.

  • Léonore is a musician from Belgium, she learned the violin and sang a lot in her childhood, but then left the music for nearly 15 years. She found her voice back a few years ago through deep inner work, and started to play the guitar again and sing a lot of medicine music.

Léonore - Kirtan

  • Dhanyo, known as Dharmananda, grew up within the loving embrace of the Haidakhan Babaji community, which also founded the Sada Shiva Dham Ashram in Holland. Practicing Sanskrit mantras and singing them as part of his daily life, his musical journey began over 30 years ago when he first played lead harmonium.

A young woman sitting at a decorated piano, looking at her phone, with a Christmas tree and holiday decorations in the background.

Sivani Mata - Kirtan & Yoga Nidra

  • Sivani Mata is an artist who is moved by a sensory and elemental exploration of life through practice that evokes the liminal experience of trance-like states of consciousness, and the centring of the awareness in heart as the seat of truth within.
    She believes in this process of deep inner work as a way to cultivate a harmonic relationship with the Earth, and feels that these practices pave the way to building the relationship of self love and acceptance which is the foundation to a healing loving relationship with the land.

People attending a colorful indoor event with draped fabric and string lights, some playing musical instruments, others listening and taking photos.

Shambo & Veda Kirtan

  • Shambo and Veda have been part of their family Kirtan band, “Goma,” since childhood, with Kirtan flowing through their lives as naturally as breath. Their music is deeply rooted in tradition. Shambo sings and plays the harmonium and dholak, while Veda primarily plays the dholak and other percussion instruments. Together, they form a powerful and heartfelt duo.
    Kirtan is second nature to them, and they travel wherever they are invited, sharing their love and devotion with their listeners.

A man with glasses and a beard, wearing a red T-shirt, plays a kalimba while speaking into a microphone against a white background with a purple decorative cloth.

Tim Chalice

A man playing guitar outdoors on a porch and a woman playing a keyboard among trees in a park.

  • Ida and Maringo met at the Haidhakan Babaji community in the Netherlands and are exploring musical collaborations through their shared belief in the unifying power of music. They look forward to sharing their unique flavor of Kirtan with everybody at the Beltane Bhakti Gathering. Ida, a musician, psychologist, and yogini, has a strong and soulful voice that will make you feel right at home.

Ida & Maringo - Kirtan

  • Tim Chalice has been leading Kirtan for 20 years, appearing at many bhakti and yoga festivals, gatherings and retreats, as well as releasing two Kirtan CDs. Tim’s heartfelt music offers a space for stillness, joy, and deep connection. Blending ancient mantras with soulful melodies, Tim’s music serves as a bridge — connecting tradition with contemporary spiritual practice. His gentle presence and intuitive musicality create an inclusive and uplifting environment for all.

Young woman singing and playing a harmonium during a performance

Marieke Versteegen

  • Marieke has been drawn to the Bhakti Yoga path ever since her yoga journey started and has been regularly offering kirtan in Amsterdam for quite some years now. Her first kirtan experience, many years ago in Glastonbury, was so deeply moving and heart-opening, so full of joy, that she knew from that moment that this was her path. It was like coming home, a deep remembrance.

Three people sitting on steps praying with hands together, outdoors in a garden setting.

Lilavati Rose - Kirtan

  • For over three decades, Lilavati Rose has walked the path of devotion as a bhakta in the Radha–Krishna tradition weaving the essence of bhakti into every aspect of her life and service. Rooted in deep spiritual practice, she honours the heart of the tradition while embracing the wisdom of many lineages, allowing her work to become a meeting place of devotion, unity, and sacred remembrance.

A man wearing glasses and a patterned shirt playing a keyboard on stage with green lighting.

Mark Robson - Sound Engineer

  • Mark is known as one of the founding members of the world ~ fusion group Kangaroo Moon. He is a multi~instrumentalist & composer, whose work spans over 40 years, of many styles, and genres. Here he takes music into Mantra~ influenced melodic patterns, and textures, with Reverence to Sri Haidakhan Babaji.
    As well as sharing his music, Mark will also be holding the space as our sound engineer for the gathering

And the year’s workshops!

Three people sitting on steps outdoors, holding their hands together in a prayer position, smiling, with a garden and pink stone railings in the background.

Lilavati Rose - Goddess Journey

  • For over three decades, Lilavati Rose has walked the path of devotion as a bhakta in the Radha–Krishna tradition weaving the essence of bhakti into every aspect of her life and service. Rooted in deep spiritual practice, she honours the heart of the tradition while embracing the wisdom of many lineages, allowing her work to become a meeting place of devotion, unity, and sacred remembrance.

  • A journey weaving together the wisdom of this land and the ancient Vedic traditions. As we gather at Beltane, we honour Rhiannon — a goddess of these lands — alongside Parvati, representing the eternal presence of Shakti. Together, they form a bridge between traditions — a meeting of earth and spirit, land and lineage.

Smiling woman with long dark hair sitting on a wooden bench outdoors, surrounded by green trees.

Maite - Shakti Flowing Yoga

  • Maite began her journey into meditation, yoga, movement, dance, and personal development in 1990, following a call for integration and a deep personal healing journey. She transitioned from her work as a nurse in Spain to training as a Movement and Drama Therapist in the Sesame Method in London, alongside studying various bodywork techniques. Shakti Dance, the Yoga of Dance, and Kundalini Yoga remain her core yoga practices.

  • Shakti Flowing Yoga is a dance-inspired, movement-based practice rooted in Shakti Dance—the Yoga of Dance—and Kundalini Yoga. We journey together in a body-mind-heart exploration, slowing the flow of movement and tuning into the natural rhythm of our own breath. By releasing judgment and the urge to perform, and embracing kindness, curiosity, and acceptance, we step into a space of deep presence with the body exactly as it is. Each 90-minute session unfolds with mindful tuning in, flowing floor stretches, standing movements, free dance, and restorative relaxation—inviting you to move, breathe, and be fully present.

A man with glasses, a beard, and a mustache wearing a black beanie and white hoodie taking a selfie indoors.

Ben Eydmann - Embodiment

  • Ben is a yoga teacher, psychodynamic therapist, sound therapist and butoh practitioner with a passion for embodied inquiry. He enjoys drawing on a wide range of techniques such as yoga, Gestalt, butoh inspired improvisation and subtle life resonances to help people soften, listen, and discover movement that emerges naturally beyond performance.

  • What does it mean to be moved rather than move? What shifts when we stop performing and begin listening? Can emptiness become a form of devotion? Drawing on yoga, my personal butoh practice this session explores the body as a vessel for the Divine Mystery rather than its director. Through slow warm-ups, sensory attunement, and improvised movement, we open to subtle impulses, inner images, and what quietly resonantes beneath. No experience necessary. Optional contact if it feels right

Woman with bright red hair smiling, wearing a dark purple top and jewelry

Jan Day - Exploring Connection

  • We are so happy that Jan Day will be joining us again at this year’s gathering. With decades of experience in the field of conscious intimacy and relationships, Jan creates warm, grounded spaces for exploring connection and communication.

  • The workshops will offer simple, practical tools — like visioning, deep listening, and self-reflection — to help us understand our patterns in relationships and explore ways to bring more honesty, care, and awareness into them.

A man with long brown hair standing outdoors in front of a waterfall and green trees.

Devamurti - Authentic Relating

  • Devamurti is trained in classical tantric yoga and a range of meditation systems – yogic, Buddhist, and non-denominational. As a mindfulness-based core-process psychotherapist, he’s deeply passionate about the practice of authentic relating.
    His teachings are rooted in the non-dual Shaivic traditions, and his nomadic spiritual journey has taken him across continents, through deep shadow work, trauma healing, and profound inquiry. His sessions are open to all levels and invite both depth and playful exploration.

  • Devamurti will be offering an Authentic Relating session lasting 2.5 hours – edgy and exciting, this simple yet powerful Svadhyaya (self-study) practice explores what it truly feels like to be me, right now, in this moment… and we do it relationally – face to face, heart to heart, in connection with partners and in groups. This process can uncover our personality tendencies (vasanas), subconscious imprints (samskaras), and the limiting patterns that keep us stuck. By bringing them into the light of awareness, we open space for deep transformation.This practice is Fire – not to be missed!

A woman with light brown hair smiling outdoors near a tree and tall grass.

Marieke Meulenbeld - Yoga Nidra, Sound

  • Let’s rest together, honouring our natural rhythms of rest, repair and regeneration. In this gentle practice we explore the nourishing state of yoga nidra — an invitation into deep rest, where body and mind can soften and restore sleep, vitality and creativity. The session is guided by Marieke, medical doctor and yogini, trained in teaching yoga nidra and inspired by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli. The practice will be supported by beautiful live music from accompanying musicians, creating a warm and spacious soundscape for rest. Yoga Nidra is accessible to everyone and meets you exactly where you are. Please bring a warm blanket and, if you have one, a cushion. 

Woman laughing outdoors near wooden fence with green plants

Shaku Burrel - Laughter Yoga

  • Join Me for a Laughter Yoga Session! What is it ? Laughter Yoga combines playful laughter exercises with yogic breathing (Pranayama) to boost your mood, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. What starts as simple laughter quickly becomes real, contagious joy! Great for your body. Refreshing for your mind. Uplifting for your spirit. Come experience the power of laughter and see how it can brighten your day. No yoga mat needed—just bring a bottle of water and a belly full of laughter!  Come Let’s laugh together! Don’t miss it!

The Bhakti Gathering offers a glimpse into the timeless wisdom of the Vedic way of life. In a world that often prioritises achievement and individuality, Bhakti reminds us of something deeper… that true fulfilment is found not in separation, but in connection.

In these times when the world can feel divided and uncertain, coming together in love and simplicity is a radical act. The Bhakti Gathering is a space to remember what connects us beyond beliefs, backgrounds, and opinions.

Here we share simple moments: singing, eating, listening, and caring for one another. Through community and devotion, we remember the ancient truth that together we are stronger, kinder, and more whole.

Practical Information

Arrival and departure times

  • 1st May @ 2:00 pm (dinner 4.30pm, opening ceremony 6.00pm)

  • Monday 4th May @ 1:00 pm

Bhakti Gathering details …

The event is run by volunteers, and we’ve intentionally kept the ticket prices as low as possible, to cover fixed costs. This is the ethos of the event – in most cultures, you can’t put a price tag on such gatherings of the heart.

Of course we have to cover our fixed costs. We are all contributing to make it possible!

Festival & Accommodation Costs

Pricing details…

If you are a family or cannot pay the full price, please contact: [email protected] to request a discount. We have a limited number of concessionary places and we hope and trust these will be used by people who need them.

Child Tickets:
0 – 3yrs: Free
4 – 16 yrs: £48 (£12 per day)

Limited Super Early Bird Tickets

£169

Your ticket includes:

  • Full access to all workshops, music, and events

  • Includes event activities, food & camping (Please, bring your own tent and camping gear)

  • All meals and teas

  • Sauna access and festival facilities

Early Early Bird Tickets

£200

Limited Concession Ticket

£150

Book Now

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Payment Plan

We understand that everyone's financial situation is unique, so we've designed our payment plan with flexibility in mind.

Secure your place by spreading the total cost into manageable instalments. We offer the option to pay a deposit and spread the balance over the remaining months before the payment deadline. There is a £5 charge for using this payment plan option. Payment dates will be clearly outlined when you book.

Cancellation & Refunds

Our Cancellation policy can be found here.

A bedroom with a bed, side tables, and lamps, decorated with plants, a mirror, and a hanging light fixture.
A bedroom with a floral bedspread, pink pillows, a window with green curtains, a potted plant on the window sill, a bedside lamp, a bookshelf with books and decorative items, and a white wall with a small painting.
Interior of a small wooden shed with a bed, small window, and a bedside table.
A bedroom with wooden paneled walls and ceiling, a window with white curtains, a bed with a polka dot bedspread, a small yellow lamp on a wooden nightstand, and a wall-mounted light fixture.
A small room with two wooden ladders leading up to loft beds, dark curtains, large windows, and hardwood floors.

Food at Leela

All food is vegetarian, drawing inspiration from cuisines from around the world. Garden produce is used when available including green salads and culinary herbs.

There is a separate tea making area with a wide range of beverages which include herbal teas, coffee, decaf, green and black teas, hot chocolate, plus cow’s milk and alternative milks.

We cater for the following diets …

  • Dairy-free / Egg-free

  • Gluten Free

  • Sugar conscious

  • Vegan and vegetarian

Food is prepared in a shared kitchen where allergens are present. See our food information page for details.

A plate of assorted food items including a salad with cherry tomatoes and greens, a scoop of guacamole, slices of bread with nuts and seeds, a crispy cheese crisp, and a serving of beetroot salad, with a bowl of soup in the background.