The 2nd Vaishnava
Arts Festival
May 12-14, 2023
(Mother’s Day weekend: Friday-Sunday)
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What is the Vaishnava Arts Retreat? It is a gathering of devotees—or craftspeople working in different media to express their expertise and joys or art and create a calming experience for other devotees to pursue art in their practice of bhakti. Stepping back from the demands of every day can inspire leaps in creativity and thus our spiritual life.
Ever had an interest in art but never really dove head first into the experience? This retreat gives you the ability to do that. It is completely possible to learn various forms of art on your own, but it can be a little lonely, and you might lose your motivation halfway through. Here you have the chance to learn alongside others who have the same interests as you. You can learn from each other and bounce around ideas together. You get the chance to hear the thoughts and opinions of others, really growing in your artistic abilities. Even those who consider themselves a novice to an art form will benefit from trying out something new, or perfecting their skills, on an artist retreat.
You can finally take a break from your everyday life and slow down for a little while. Take the chance to “get away from it all” and have no worries. Do something you enjoy for a change, and give yourself a break!. Envelope yourself in art, this is a time for self-reflection and peace. Art can be therapeutic and really help you through your troubles. Sometimes it is critical to just be quiet and do some self-reflection so take a break and do something you really love to do.
Your creativity is like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it gets. If you’re going through a creative rut and need a little more motivation, maybe The Vaishnava Arts Festival is what you need. After you spend time using your creativity, and hanging out with other creative people, you will be able to go home with so many new ideas and inspiration.
There are so many reasons that an arts retreat can benefit both artists and non-artists. If you want to learn more about art, give yourself a break, or even strengthen your creativity, this Vaishnava Arts retreat is for you. Take a break! Do something that makes you happy with other devotees that share the same interests as you. Give your artistry a chance to grow and thrive in bhakti!
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Each workshop will run from 1 to 2 hours allowing you to participate in multiple workshops each day. Join us for a unique and stimulating weekend!
Please note: Retreat fee is non-refundable but the lodge room fee is refundable as per the conditions.
His Holiness Hrdayananda Swami
His Grace Vraja Vihari Prabhu
Her Grace Prabhupada Priya devi dasi
His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami
His Grace Charu Chandra das
(Yogi Charu)
His Grace Kalakantha Prabhu
Her Grace Ananda Vrindavan devi dasi
SCHEDULE
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FRIDAY
5/12/23
6:15 AM Yoga Yogi Charu Yogashala
8:00 AM Srimad Bhagavatam Class: How does Krishna reciprocate? Kalakantha Prabhu Temple Room
9:00 AM Breakfast Prasadam
10:30 AM Set up services for volunteers c/o Anuradha Prabhu
1:30 PM Lunch Prasadam
3:00 PM Beginners Watercolor (10 Students only) Jamuna Prabhu Village Center
3:30 PM Harmonium & Music Theory Kalakantha Prabhu Yogashala
5:00 PM Dramatic Readings from the Mahabharata Hridayananda Goswami Yogashala
6:00 PM The Art of Balance Vraja Vihari Prabhu Village Center
6:00 PM Sing to the Moon (Poetry Appreciation) Ananda Vrindavana Prabhu Yogashala
7:15 PM Dinner Prasadam (45 mins only)
SATURDAY
5/13/23
6:15 AM Yoga Yogi Charu Yogashala
8:00 AM Srimad Bhagavatam Class: Finding Your Unique Way to Serve Krishna Vraja Vihari/Ananda Vrnd. Temple Room
9:00 AM Breakfast
10:30 AM Sing to the Moon (Poetry Appreciation) Ananda Vrindavana Prabhu Prasadam Room
10:30 AM Pranayama Nikunjavilasini Prabhu Village Center
10:30 AM The Art of Balance Vraja Vihari Prabhu Yogashala
12:00 PM Waldorf Pedagogy in Bhakti Anuradha/Virginia Community Hall/On island weather permitting
12:00 PM Srila Prabhupada, Our Founder-acharya Suresvara Prabhu Prasadam Room
12:00 PM Power of Story Sankirtan Prabhu Village Center
12:00 PM On Writing for Krishna Kalakantha Prabhu Yogashala
1:30 PM Lunch
3:30 PM Writing Devotional Songs Krpamaya Prabhu Yogashala
3:30 PM Mrdanga Nitai Gauranga Prabhu Prasadam Room
3:30 PM Seeing Krishna in Nature Prabhupada Priya Village Center
5:00 PM Thriving in a Spiritual Community Srutisagara Prabhu Community Hall
5:00 PM Power of Story Sankirtan Prabhu Village Center
5:00 PM Mrdanga Nitai Gauranga Prabhu Prasadam Room
5:00 PM Introduction to Pastoral Counseling Kalakantha Prabhu Yogashala
6:00 PM Dinner Prasadam (45 mins service only)
7:00 PM Kaliya Lila in Music and Verse followed by the Phantom of the Ashrama Krpamaya & NV residents/
KH Gainesville Community Hall
7:30 PM Drama: The Witness Gopal Bhaktimarga Swami & Players Community Hall
SUNDAY
5/14/23
6:15 AM Yoga Yogi Charu Yogashala
8:00 AM Srimad Bhagavatam Class: Transcendental Motherhood Prabhupada Priya Prabhu Temple Room
9:00 AM Prasadam
10:00 AM Beginners Watercolor (10 students only) Jamuna Prabhu Village Center
10:30 AM On Writing for Krishna Kalakantha Prabhu Yogashala
10:30 AM Srila Prabhupada, Our Founder-acharya Suresvara Prabhu Prasadam Room
12:00 PM Power of Story Sankirtan Prabhu Village Center
12:00 PM Krishna House Continental Reunion Panel Yogashala
1:30 PM Sunday Feast Prasadam
Workshops offered:​
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The Art of Balance
by Vraja Vihari das
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The Art of Vaishnava Music (a Western approach) by Kalakantha das
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The Power of Story
by Sankirtan das
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Sing to the Moon - Appreciating Poets and Poetry on the Bhakti Path
by Ananda Vrindavan devi dasi
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The Art of Seeing Krishna in Nature
by Prabhupada Priya dasi
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The Art of Hatha Yoga
by Yogi Charu
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The Art of Playing Mrdanga (traditional approach) by Nitai Prasad das
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The Art of Pranayama
by Nikunja Vilasini devi dasi
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The Art of Watercolor Painting
by Jamuna devi dasi
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The Art of Vaishnava Writing
by Kalakantha das
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The Art of Composing Music for Krishna
by Kripamaya das
The Art of Composing Music for Krishna
In Kripamaya das’s workshop “The Art of Composing Music for Krishna”, participants will learn simple hands on techniques that will help them write their own music for any Krishna Conscious occasion…no previous musical training necessary. Kripamaya das is Srila Prabhupada’s disciple and a summa cum laude graduate from West Liberty University in music and theater. He wrote the book, music and lyrics for the musical, “The Ramayan, Past and Present”, a two-hour musical which opened with a cast of twenty theater/ music majors and faculty from WLU and has been performed to enthusiastic audiences at New Vrindaban, as well as at the Towngate and Kelly Theaters.
Introduction to Music Theory for Devotees by Kalakantha das
Improve your devotional music skills by learning simple ways to recognize and understand the musical structure of kirtan.
The Art of Writing Poetry
Learn the personal and practical skills needed to eloquently express devotional realizations.
“The Power of Story” with Award-winning Author Sankirtana Das
To spread Krishna Consciousness in today's climate, it is imperative to understand the power of story. In Srimad Bhagavatam 3:13:48 Prabhupada writes, “Every one of us is fond of hearing some wonderful narration, but most stories are neither auspicious nor worth hearing because they are of the inferior quality of material nature. . . . Intelligent persons should therefore hear personally and cause others to hear the descriptive narrations of the Lord's activities, for that will destroy the pangs of material existence.” Storytelling is an age old tool in all cultures around the world. It is both a technology and art form in itself. This will be a gently interactive workshop.
The Art of Hatha Yoga
Morning hatha yoga classes to charge for the day with Yogi Charu. His extensive knowledge of yogic tradition and spirituality, and a compassionate personal perspective bring depth to his teaching.
The Art of Pranayama
Spend time with your breath and learn valuable lessons from it.
Sing to the Moon
Appreciating Poets and Poetry on the Bhakti Path by Ananda Vrindavan devi dasi
REGISTRATION IS OPEN
only $86 for the whole weekend
READ THE STEPS FOR BOOKING YOUR RETREAT
Step 2
Enter all retreats participants information
After entering your personal details, please add the contact information of any additional adults in your party who will also need a wristband to attend the retreat.
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This year we have upgraded our reservation system to allow guests to book their retreats and accommodations together. Please carefully follow the three steps below to ensure we have all the information to properly welcome you and your party to the retreat at check-in.
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Step 1
Choose your room
First, select the number of adults and children in your party. Next, choose how many accommodations are needed. For example, four adult guests and two rooms.
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Step 3
Add-on: Additional Wristbands
Each accommodation package includes only one paid wristband. Additional wristbands will need to be purchased for each member of your party as an “add-on” for everyone to participate in the retreat. We will only distribute wristbands to those who have paid in advance here. Unfortunately, we cannot offer wristbands the day the retreat begins as we have a limited capacity at our venue.
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If you wish to add additional nights to your booking, please make your request via email in response to your confirmation email.
Have you read all the steps for booking?
If so, click below.
Upcoming Events
Fri, Sep 29Sep 29, 3:00 PM – Oct 01, 3:00 PMMoundsville, 3759 McCreary's Ridge Rd, Moundsville, WV 26041, USA
Thu, Oct 12Oct 12, 7:00 PM – Oct 15, 12:00 PMNew Vrindaban, 3759 McCreary's Ridge Rd, Moundsville, WV 26041, USA
Sat, Oct 28Oct 28, 12:00 PM – Oct 29, 12:00 PMMoundsville, 3759 McCreary's Ridge Rd, Moundsville, WV 26041, USA
Sat, Nov 11Nov 11, 5:00 AM – Nov 13, 5:00 AMMoundsville, 3759 McCreary's Ridge Rd, Moundsville, WV 26041, USA
Sat, Dec 23Dec 23, 7:00 PM – Dec 25, 8:00 PMMoundsville, 3759 McCreary's Ridge Rd, Moundsville, WV 26041, USA
Sat, Dec 30Dec 30, 2023, 7:00 PM – Jan 01, 2024, 7:00 PMMoundsville, 3759 McCreary's Ridge Rd, Moundsville, WV 26041, USA