Zindagi Mubarak is a three day zero waste festival held in the picturesque mountains of Uttarakhand, curated with love by Ishqestan and Kaarkhana. It has been started with a noble intent to create a platform for the local artists and the artisans; employment opportunities for the villagers and to celebrate this very gift - “life”. 

Why should I attend?

It’s an unforgettable experience filled with immersive musical concerts, meaningful workshops, barefoot nature walks, liberating sharing sessions, yoga and meditation, open mic sessions, bathing in the fresh waters, experience of living in the mountains, magical sunrises, moonrises, sunsets and winding pathways. 

All the activities are intertwined and flow into each other to create a holistic experience that is not limited to just “fun and chill”.  

They are curated with the idea of fostering deeper connections with the community, nature and our very own selves, to create a space where we can look within and discover together how we can make “Zindagi Mubarak.” and therefore, build a community of like minded people -artists, musicians, travelers, writers, philosophers, lovers, thinkers and anyone who is interested to explore deeper understanding of life. 

Well, however we don’t believe in preaching and hence, the workshops or the activities are gamified, fun and exploratory in nature. 

Also, through your participation you are helping to create a platform for the local artists and employment opportunities for the local artisans. 

What kind of Music?

Songs written by the mystic saints like Kabir, Meera, Baba Bullesh Shah; Sufi; Baul and other Bengali Musical forms; Rajasthani folk; Classical and Semi-classical and also a lot of original compositions by amazing artists. 

And off-course local Garhwali Music! : )

Wait! We also have performances by instrumentalists and jam sessions (Jugal Bandi) between them. 

And the best part is we also have an Open Mic Session for all the participants. 

When?

In the Monsoons! Get ready to witness beautiful rainbows and misty mountains!

15th-17th August, 2024

The longest weekend of this year!!!

Where?

“Bodhigram” - a home for seekers is a an extremely peaceful and tranquil space surrounded by picturesque mountains and farmlands of Garhwal. It’s situated right in the foothills of Dehradun, a lush green mountain village named Thano in Uttarakhand (7 Km away from Dehradun airport, 21 Kms from Dehradun and 23 kms from Rishikesh) making it very accessible while away from the hustle and the bustle of city life. 

The venue has large patches of open land, various trees and is a perfect site for bird watching. Built in an eco-friendly manner, using bamboo as the primary construction material it aligns completely with our vision of sustainability.

It has a large semi open performance and workshop space overlooking the lush green farmlands, forest and the mountains of Garhwal. It also has semi open workshop spaces, a small children park with swings to keep your children busy, a lovely dining space which serves satvik and delicious vegetarian meals - this space also has a small section where you can buy products from various NGOs, a small but significant library with handpicked books, cute bamboo cottages with attached washrooms, having all the basic amenities and dormitories having shared washrooms.

We are also arranging tents especially for the festival. 

Bodhigram is also an empowerment center and a community living space that helps you delve within and re-establish the connection with self. The center is also the home of the Living Consciously Foundation. 

Our Best Practices

·        Creating a platform for the local artists

·        Creating employment opportunities for the local artisans - our entire merchandise is created by an NGO, the entire profit directly goes to them. 

·        Zero Waste Festival

·        No smoking and drinking policy inside the premises

·        Smile and say ‘Zindagi Mubarak’ to everyone : )

Our merchendise is designed by the NGO Project Purkul. We are extremely greatful to them for doing this for us. All the earnings go directly to them, hence we kindly request everyone to pick up small souvenirs for themselves or there loved ones. 

Day-wise schedule

Day 1: 

·        Arrival - Welcome Ceremony -the Game begins :) 

·        Breakfast

·        Ice Breaking sessions/ Parichay (not the usual stuff :))

·        Lunch

·        Session exploring the idea of Freedom, delving deeper into the understanding of what freedom truly stands for us - facilitated by Ar. Meghna Chatterji, an award winning academician, Conservation architect, vocalist, designer, explorer and co-founder of Zindagi Mubarak.

·        Evening Tea 

·        Music concert:  

·        Garhwali Folk by local artists - Expect to hear completely raw and grounding sounds from the mountains that give you a glimpse of mountain life. 

·        Dev and Prabhav - Original compositions by Dev aka the co-founder of Zindagi Mubarak, using world music of reggae, folk and sufi. His songs are fun and quirky but having a profiund meaning behind them.

·        Dinner 

Stargazing and random conversations ….

Day 2: 

·        Yoga and Meditation guided by Rakesh Ji, founder of My New Life Yoga Retreat Center

·        Breakfast

·        Barefoot Nature Walk through villages and forests - learning about vernacular architecture and traditional knowledge systems on the way and observing our interaction with nature, community and ourselves. 

·        Session on connecting with Nature - No preaching! A gamified and simulation based workshop with an intent to observe, explore and connect with Nature at a deeper level, its significance in our lives, us being a part of it and the consequences of disconnecting with nature in our lives. 

·        Bathing in the waterfalls

·        Lunch

·        Songwriting and Ukulele Workshop facilitated by Dev aka Zindagi Mubarak, travelling musician hailing from the mountains of Uttarakhand, a social activist and co-founder of Zindagi Mubarak.

·        Evening Tea 

·        Music concert: 

·        Classical and Semi Classical performances by Shri Siddharth Negi, Rishi Mitra and various artists - Imagine listening to Malhar in the monsoons :)

·        Baul (sounds of bengal) and Bhakti songs by Meghna Chatterji and various artists

·        Dinner 

Stargazing and random conversations ….

Day 3:  

·        Yoga and Meditation guided by Rakesh Ji, founder of foundation 

·        Breakfast

·        An introspective session to understand ourselves better using pottery as a tool - Expect listening to Kabir songs along with guided pottery sessions. Note it’s not a skill based workshop but a simulation workshop to bring insights from within, followed by liberating sharing sessions and reflections.

·        Lunch

·        Pop up stalls and Dariya Dil Dukaan setup by the participants We offer free space to all our participants to sell their products and also to become a part of Dariya Dil Dukan, a concept of sharing what you no longer need or feel to give away. - Explained in more detail in the later sections. 

·        Evening Tea 

·        Music concert -

·        Open Mic Session where participants get to perform - sing, share a poetry, an experience or the songs written by them in the workshop. Bingo!

·        Bikanerwala and Raman - a magical performance comprising of original compositions, Kabir, Rajasthani folk and a lot more

·        A surprise that will be revealed on Day 2 of the festival :) 

·        Dinner 

Hugs and bidding goodbyes :):

Limited seats so book your slot now inorder to avoid later inconvenience. 

Still confused? 

Here’s a checklist for you:

Who should be attending the Zindagi Mubarak Festival?

·        If you are looking for experiential travel in the mountains

·        Looking for something new, an unforgettable experience

·        Loves Music (Kabir, Sufi, Original Compositions, Classical, Folk Music - Baul, Rajasthani and Garhwali folk)

·        Wants to connect with like minded tribe (an intimate festival with not more than 50 people)

·        Looking for a non judgemental and safe space

·        Who wants to connect with Nature (Barefoot Nature Walks, Bathe in waterfalls and explore further connections)

·        Who wants to celebrate, understand and explore the art of loving life (through workshops, games, activities, sharing sessions, music, art, pottery etc.)

·        Looking forward to detox (healthy vegetarian meals and no smoking/drinking in the premises)

·        Interested in exploring the concept of Sustainable living (zero waste festival, eco-friendly architecture, other sustainable practices)

If you have scored well in the checklist you are an ideal candidate for attending this festival. 

We look forward to host you with twinkling eyes and warm smiles.🧡🌻

 Zindagi Mubarak! ✨🤗

See you soon ❤️ 

Still have queries? Feel free to contact us directly:

Reach out to us: Meghna: +91-9971511285/ Dev: +91 - 9535603065 

Kindly consider going through the frequently asked questions :) 

Common questions asked frequently

Q. 1 How to reach the Venue?

Ans 1. Nearest Railheads: Dehradun and Rishikesh/Haridwar

Nearest Bus Station: Dehradun and Rishikesh

Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (7 kms only)

You can also book bla bla cabs from Delhi and put Jolly Grant Airport as your location, as it will drop you very close to the venue. * Another trick is while coming via cab or bus you may get down at Doiwala flyover which goes towards the airport , you can get shared autos/cabs from there to the venue.

From Dehradun to venue:

Reaching Bodhigram from Dehradun by Public Transport (Budget-friendly, but slower)

Two Options:

1. *Parade Ground:*

·        Take an auto rickshaw to Parade Ground (easily available).

·        Board a mini bus directly to Thano (₹40-50). First bus departs at 8:30 AM.

2. *Raipur (Maharana Pratap Chowk):*

·        Take an auto rickshaw to Raipur.

·        Catch a mini bus to Thano (runs every 30-45 minutes after 9 AM).

·        From Thano, Bodhigram is a 15-minute walk uphill on a well-built road.

*Shared Cab Option (Budget-friendly):*

·        From Raipur, you can also find shared cabs going to Jolly Grant Airport via Thano. Inform them beforehand and negotiate the fare to ₹40-50 (local passenger rate). They will drop you off directly at Thano.

Reaching Bodhigram by Taxi (Direct):

·        Pre-booking is recommended (especially for weekends with potential traffic). Prices are approximate:

·        From Dehradun/Rishikesh center: ₹1200 (inform driver a day before)

·        From Jolly Grant Airport: ₹600

·        Cab Contact (Manoj Bhaiya): +91-82183 56297 (WhatsApp preferred), +91-74175 37115

Feel free to ask for further clarification!

Q. 2 When do we need to reach and when is the departure?

Ans 2. All the participants are expected to reach by 15th morning and leave by 18th morning. 

Q. 3 What is Dariya Dil Dukan?

Ans. 3. Dariya Dil Dukan is not charity, it’s gifting things to others that you already have but are not using for whatsoever reason.

All the participants are informed to bring such sweet tokens and anyone can pick up anything from the stall, whatever aligns with you consciously and mindfully.

Q. 4 Do we have to pay any extra charges for setting up our stall on the last day?

Ans. 4. No, we are offering free space for all the participants to set up their stall. We would be grateful if you wish to willingly contribute any amount from your profits, however, it is not mandatory. 

Q. 5 What are the kind of products we can bring for the stall? 

Ans. 5. Any product which you have made, written, painted, produced on your own with love or by your own organisation, you can also get creative and set up an experiential stall like face paint, head massage, fun games, mehendi works etc. 

However we strongly discourage products which are not sustainable or are bought from somewhere else to be sold here. The idea of putting up your “own” stall is to encourage people to create something of their own and celebrate the joy of it with others. 

Q.6 What are the kind of products or items we can give in Dariya Dil Dukan?

Ans. 6 Anything like books, earrings, accessories, clothes, cushion covers, food products which are not expired, artworks, stationary products, bags, mugs etc. which you no longer use but are in a good condition and you wish to “gift" to others. Please don’t buy it especially for this. This space is curated with the intent to facilitate reusing and also foster connections amongst people.

If you are confused, as a simple rule of thumb, generally the things that we have not used for more than one year, there is a rare possibility that you would be using it again. 

We all have those things sitting in our almirahs and houses, about time to let go!:) 

Q. 7 Is it child friendly?

Ans 7. Yes, absolutely! 

Q. 8 Is the venue pet friendly?

Ans 8. Yes, absolutely! Bodhigram has huge open spaces for your pets to play, however, they will be completely your responsibility. 

Q. 9 Can I bring my friend along?

Ans 9. Yes! Definitely. They have to register separately though. 

Q. 10 How else can we support you?

Ans 10. We are grateful for your consideration. Please do share your contact number or mail id and we would be very happy to share the kind of support we are looking for. 

Q. 11 Are you looking for any barter?

Ans. 11. We currently won’t be able to do any barter because of financial reasons. We are a very small homegrown initiative trying to sustain ourselves. However, we definitely wish to explore the idea in future years. 

Q. 12 Can we sponsor, if yes, what are the benefits that we get?

Ans. 12. A BIG YES!!! We are actively looking for sponsors and we have some amazing offers and plans for all the sponsors, kindly send us your mail id and contact number, will be super happy to share our pitch!

Q. 14 What are we supposed to bring with ourselves?

Ans 14. We strongly believe in the saying “Jitna kam samaan rahega, utna safar aasan rahega” : The less baggage you carry the easier your journey will be :) 

A list of essential items: 

·        Raincoat/umbrella

·        Any specific medication that you need or may need (Dehradun and Rishikesh are 21-23 Kms away) 

·        A shawl/windcheater for nights (it can sometimes get slightly cooler at nights)

·        A lot of enthusiasm, love and openness in your heart. 

·        Your basic utilities

A list of optional items: 

·        We do provide clean linens, however if you are extremely specific or picky it’s always good to carry your own bedsheet. 

·        For Dariya Dil Dukan kindly bring little things that you don’t use anymore and would like to give to someone - Books, painting, earrings, clothes, anything that you bring along. Also someone might be gifting you something so keep some space in your bag :) 

·        Any musical instrument you play! 

Q. 15 What will the weather be like?

Ans. 15. Monsoons are the best time to visit Dehradun. The weather is pleasant, the nights can be slightly cooler for some people. A small shawl or windcheater will be good enough. 

Q. 16 Will it be okay to pitch a tent in the monsoons?

Ans 16. Yes, absolutely because we have allocated a specific semi open space for that. So, you can enjoy the rain without getting wet. 

Q. 17 Is there any particular age group for this festival?

Ans. 17. No, we welcome and encourage people from all groups, professions, economic backgrounds, genders, states, nationalities to participate as it brings a holistic experience as a group. 

Q. 18 What is the meaning of Simulation based workshops?

Ans 18. These are experiential workshops, where you are given an imaginary situation, prompts or other such tools are used to bring insights from within.

The role of the facilitator in these workshops is to moderate, facilitate or support the participants rather than preaching them. The beauty of such workshops is everyone comes out with their own reflections which stands true for them and 

Q. 19 Is it mandatory to attend all the sessions?

Ans. 19 Ideally yes, for the holistic experience of the festival, it's crucial to attend all the sessions. 

Q. 20 Is it mandatory to go barefoot for naturewalk?

Ans 20. No, it’s not mandatory but we encourage you to have that experience. :) For safety purposes you may carry a pair of slippers in your bag and some first aid. 

Q. 21 What should I pack?

Ans 21. Appropriate clothing - there’s no dress code as such, just make sure you understand the weather and terrain and come prepared accordingly

Your utilities, towel, a refillable water bottle (we strongly discourage the usage of plastic), any medication that you need or may need, any musical instrument that you play, things for dariya dil dukan/pop up stall, anything else that you think you would need. Also make sure to keep some space in your bag because you might want to shop from our little fest or pick things from dariya dil dukan :) 

Reach out to us at 📞Meghna: +91-9971511285/ Dev: +91 - 9535603065

Check out more content about Zindagi Mubarak on our Instagram Page 💫: )

Zindagi Mubarak is a lot more than a three day festival, it’s building a community.

Register now to be a part of our loving family!!! ❤️