Krishna Das performing at Bhakti Fest.
I recently had the extraordinary opportunity to interview one of the most interesting people I’ve met this past week.
His name is Sridhar Steven Silberfein and he was involved with bringing Sri Swami Satchidananda to Woodstock, his peer group has been filled with the extraordinary individuals like Salvador Dali, Ram Dass, Michael Lang and Artie Kornfield, he was the man who opened the first health food store in Southern California, and he is the Founder of Bhakti Fest.
To sum up his life story, Steven Silberfein grew up in the 60s in Long Island, New York.
He was fascinated in spiritual studies during his teenage years and it was around this time that his aunt recommended he meet a teacher named Albert Rudolph who was in New York City.
Nicknamed “Rudi”, this teacher was the only Western disciple of the Indian Guru, Bhagavad Niytananada.
Rudi’s main teachings circled around kundalini eye gazing, and this was Steven’s first real experience of embodied spirituality, or what he said is shaktipat (the reception of spiritual grace).
His hunger to expand his spiritual practice continued with his kundalini practices from Rudi as well as Hatha Yoga from Sri Swami Satchidananda, the man who also gave him the name “Sridhar”.
With his passionate dedication, Sridhar eventually became one of the main Yoga teachers at the revered Integral Yoga Institute on 500 West End Ave.
It was here that he taught iconic artists, prolific producers, renegade real estate agents, and spiritual seekers alike.
Sridhar peer group expanded to people like Michael Lang and Artie Kornfield (the two producers behind the Woodstock festival), Salivador Dali, and other extraordinary people.
One day Michael and Artie asked Sridhar what was missing from their lineup for Woodstock.
“Spirituality,” said Sridhar.
He suggested he bring Sri Swami Satchidananda to the festival and Michael and Artie were thrilled.
At Woodstock, Sri Swami Satchidananda gave a speech and finished it by leading over 500,000 attendees in chanting “Hari Om” and “Ramaramarama”.
Afterward, Sridhar whispered to Sri Swami Satchidananda, “Swamiji, wouldn’t it be great to bring this amount of people together to chant the names of the Divine?”
Sri Swami Satchidananda smiled and said, “Yes, it would be great if you could do that.”
This sparked the idea of what would become Bhakti Fest 40 years later.
Then, in 2009, exactly 40 years after Woodstock, Sridhar brought his lifelong dream to reality by creating Bhakti Fest in Joshua Tree, CA.
Bhakti Fest quickly became a beloved annual event on the calendars of spiritual seekers, yogis, families, girlfriend squads, and others looking for an end of summer festival to commune with nature, each other and the divine, Bhakti Fest has expanded their offering beyond the top yoga teachers, Kirtan artists and workshop leaders, to include features such as a Family Village for parent and me yoga, kids music and more, as well as a Sound-bath Dome and Sound Healings under the stars, the latest trend in musical meditation.
In addition to its always enlightening workshop program Bhakti Fest also hosts a Sacred Women’s Tent and a Men’s Lodge offering gender specific programming covering topics such as Tantra, empowerment, and redefining masculinity.
Known internationally for hosting a massive lineup of Kirtan musicians, master yoga instructors, and spiritual teachers, Bhakti Fest draws thousands of conscious explorers from the U.S. and around the world. Kirtan and reggae influenced singer/songwriter Trevor Hall, known for his hits “Brand New Day,” “The Lime Tree,” “Unity,” and others will headline the event. Other returning headliners include Grammy nominee Krishna Das; Jai Uttal, with his high energy reggae and ska-influenced Kirtan set; revolutionary hip-hop artist MC YOGI; and long-time Madonna collaborator Donna De Lory.
Tomorrow, Bhakti Fest kicks off for the start to it’s epic week-long experience.
With a world-class lineup of musicians and yoga instructors, more than 60 conscious workshops, and 100 artisan vendors, Bhakti Fest is a beautiful space for a heart-opening, consciousness-raising festival experience.
Attendees have described the festival as “being immersed in the greatest conscious party you have ever experienced, filled with music, yoga, dancing, love, light, and heart centered community.”
I went last year and had such a blast that I knew I had to make my way there this year.
Get your tickets here and make sure to come and get a big, soulful hug from me!
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