A Soul-Nourishing Journey to Mother India

Reflections From Our Retreat & Spiritual Pilgrimage at Govardhan EcoVillage

Last month was one of the most fulfilling and soul-nourishing experiences of my life. It was also profoundly heart-transforming for our yoga community.

Forty-two yogis from six continents joined us for this sacred pilgrimage to Mother India. For many, it was their first visit to India—and for all, their first experience of GEV. From the moment we arrived, the devotional atmosphere, the warmth of the residents, and the spiritual potency of the ecovillage touched everyone in a way that will stay with us forever.

A Seed Was Planted

The inspiration for this program arose last summer during an internship at GEV as part of my Harvard Divinity School studies. What was intended as an academic placement became something far deeper. It awakened a profound love for bhakti yoga within my heart and offered a glimpse into a life infused with devotion, humility, and service.

It was clear that we had to share this experience with our Happy Jack Yoga family.

A Community With Open Hearts

Although most participants were brand-new to bhakti yoga, they arrived with open hearts—hungry to learn, receptive to the teachings, and eager to experience the deeper roots of yoga beyond the physical practice. From sunrise meditations to kirtans under the stars, from heartfelt satsang sharing circles to transformative conversations over meals, they embraced every moment with sincerity and joy.

What emerged was not simply a retreat, but a living experience of satsang, connection, devotion, and inner transformation.

Why This Year Was Truly Special

Our yoga school, Happy Jack Yoga, has facilitated programs in more than 30 countries over the past 15 years. Yet this year at Govardhan EcoVillage was truly special.

There is simply no space more sacred.

As a relatively new practitioner of bhakti yoga myself, it was an honor to spend time with the beautiful souls who serve here at GEV. Brahmachari monks, senior leaders of the community, and empowered devotee women shared with us the practical, lived expression of bhakti yoga—showing how devotion takes shape as service, how service purifies the heart, and how that purity awakens genuine love.

Daily Anchors: Yoga & Satsang

Each day, our group gathered for morning yoga and afternoon satsang sharing circles. These sessions— the heartbeat of Happy Jack Yoga—held us in a container of safety, authenticity, and shared growth.

But what made this pilgrimage extraordinary was everything woven around these daily practices.

Immersed in Service, Culture & Devotion

Throughout the retreat, our yogis experienced the full depth of life at GEV...

Spending sacred time with the cows at the Goshala:
Hearing the pastimes of Krishna in the Vrindavan forest:

Attending the deeply devotional Yamuna Arati:

Participating in illuminating yoga philosophy classes:

Hiking a nearby mountain with brahmachari monks:


Experiencing powerful sound healing sessions:

Visiting a nearby tribal village school to serve and connect with the children:

Attending the deeply devotional temple morning program:

Participating in a sacred Nitya Homa Yajna fire ceremony:

Engaging with the Women’s Empowerment Program at the GEV Skills Center:

Serving the local community through the Annakshetra lunch seva program:

Plus...

• Learning about GEV’s award-winning sustainability projects
• Enjoying a movie night featuring ‘The Mantra, The Movement & The Swami Who Started It All’
• Engaging in a practical Ayurvedic learning session
• Touring the impressive kitchen where thousands of meals of prasadam are prepared daily
• And so much more...

Each experience revealed another layer of the beauty, purpose, and devotion that make GEV so unique.

Moments With Great Souls

One of the greatest honors of our pilgrimage was the time we spent with Gauranga Das, who shared with us profound insights on identity, purpose, leadership, and the divine journey behind the creation of Govardhan EcoVillage. His words touched everyone deeply.

And perhaps the most unforgettable moments were those spent with His Holiness Radhanath Swami. Our Kirtan, Satsang, Q&A session, and personal book signing with Maharaj were indescribably powerful. His presence softened hearts in ways our students will remember for the rest of their lives.

Celebration & Bliss

The week culminated in an ecstatic flower festival, leaving our yogis in awe. Many said they had never experienced such pure joy, beauty, and devotion all at once.

These sacred moments helped shape a truly life-changing pilgrimage—one that will ripple through our community for years to come.

The Lasting Impact: A Community Transformed

One of the most influential sessions of the retreat was our mantra meditation workshop, where we learned not just the technique, but the heart behind the sacred practice of japa.

What happened next was extraordinary.

Without any prompting, so many students felt inspired to continue chanting the Maha Mantra daily. This inspiration arose entirely from within—sparked by witnessing the devotion of GEV’s brahmacharis and experiencing the peace of the practice themselves.

Some beautiful examples:

• Hanna (Finland), Krista (Canada), Lorraine (Canada), Norma (Mexico), and Freddie (USA) now spontaneously chant the Maha Mantra whenever they feel stressed, immediately returning to a peaceful state
  
• Angie (Canada) notices that chanting the Maha Mantra seems to be a “new normal” in her way of being. Moving through the simplest moments, making tea, driving, cleaning — the mantra appears so effortlessly, like a quiet friend checking in. 
• Terhi (Finland) experiences the mantras flowing through her, both while at GEV and back at home
• Nik (Kenya) chants along with Prabhupada, as Parkinson's makes it difficult to use a japa mala
• Jule (Germany) has been chanting one round daily since returning home
  
• Renee (Scotland) has been chanting two rounds daily
  
• Sarah (England) has been chanting four rounds daily
• Diana (Romania) has been chanting five rounds daily
  
• Lisa (Australia), Esther (Netherlands), Isabel (India), and Brandon (USA) have deepened their existing practice of sixteen rounds per day

These commitments blossomed naturally—purely from their own heartfelt experiences.

Overflowing With Gratitude

Truly, this was one of the most soul-nourishing weeks of our lives. Half of the yogis have already officially enrolled for our 2026 GEV Retreat, and several are inspired to bring their partner and children next time. 

We are all deeply grateful for the mercy of the devotees, and from His Holiness Radhanath Swami—who has been so loving, encouraging, and supportive of our community as we take our early steps into the world of bhakti yoga.

Again and again, we return to the same feeling: this was perhaps the most fulfilling and nourishing experience of our lives. Our entire team is overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity to share this beautiful path with our global yoga family. 💙

With a heart full of appreciation,
Rasananda Das
(Happy Jack)

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📸 Photos by our dear friend, Lauri Hassi 🇫🇮