Every year, as winter loosens its grip and the first warmth of spring touches the Himalayan foothills, Premkutir opens its gates for the Spring Retreat — five days of silence, sadhana, and deep inner renewal. This year's gathering drew seekers from across India and abroad, all arriving with one shared intention: to go inward.
Participants in silent meditation as the sun rises over the ashram
Day One: Arriving in Stillness
Retreatants were asked to observe mauna — noble silence — from the moment they crossed the ashram threshold. Phones were surrendered at the gate. The first evening was spent in a gentle orientation satsang, where Swami Ananda welcomed everyone with a reading from the Mandukya Upanishad and a guided body-scan meditation to help participants land fully in the present.
Silence is not the absence of sound. It is the presence of the Self. — Swami Ananda Saraswati, Opening Satsang
The Daily Schedule
- 15:00 AM — Wake-up bell and personal practice
- 25:30 AM — Group pranayama and silent meditation (90 min)
- 37:30 AM — Asana practice with Devi Prema Dasi
- 49:00 AM — Silent breakfast and rest
- 511:00 AM — Scripture study: Vivekachudamani
- 61:00 PM — Lunch and walking meditation in the gardens
- 74:00 PM — Afternoon asana or nature walk
- 86:00 PM — Evening kirtan
- 97:30 PM — Discourse and Q&A
- 109:00 PM — Lights out
Highlights from the Week
The Kirtan Evenings
Each evening after dinner, the main hall transformed into a river of sound. Devi Prema led the group through traditional Vaishnava bhajans, call-and-response chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and spontaneous devotional singing that often stretched well past the scheduled end time. Several participants described the kirtan sessions as the most moving experiences of their lives.
Evening Kirtan — Spring Retreat 2024
A glimpse of the devotional atmosphere during our evening kirtan sessions
The Silence Itself
For many, the most challenging and ultimately most rewarding aspect was the silence. Without the habitual reach for conversation, social media, or distraction, participants found themselves face to face with the contents of their own minds. Teachers were available for daily one-on-one check-ins, and many seekers reported breakthroughs in their meditation practice simply from the sustained quiet.
One participant wrote in her closing reflection: 'I came expecting to relax. I left having met myself for the first time.'
What Participants Said
- 'The combination of asana, pranayama, and meditation created a depth I've never touched in my home practice.' — Retreat participant
- 'Swami Ananda's evening discourses on the Vivekachudamani were the clearest explanations of Vedanta I've ever heard.' — Retreat participant
- 'I cried during kirtan on day three and didn't know why. It felt like something releasing that had been held for years.' — Retreat participant
Join Us Next Year
The Spring Retreat 2025 is already being planned. We will announce dates and registration details in January. Capacity is limited to 35 participants to preserve the intimate atmosphere. If you attended this year and wish to return, priority registration will be offered to alumni.