Difficult to rate Bhakti (and Shakti Fest). It used to be a 5 star music and yoga experience in Joshua Tree, CA. So many good memories and friendships made there. Unfortunately it has become commercialized, monetized into retreats in Baja and India for the wealthy = 1 star. None of it occurs in J Tree, it is so entirely different that Yelp might consider changing this listing as closed and start a new one titled the Bhakifest Group (per the new webpage). read more

Not a fan. Had a 4 days pass but left Saturday afternoon. Friday was fine but Saturday was overcrowded, barely room to walk around. Everything in the sanctuary and workshop hall was beyond capacity. Only way to get in is to come early morning to the sanctuary and STAY There all day. People come in the morning, maybe 3 or 4 leave allowing 3 or 4 in out of hundreds. They need a better system, a lager venue or limit the amount of tickets that they sell. read more

Just got back from Sept. 2011 Bhakti Fest. We camped and were at all 4 days of the Festival. There is so much going on that all 4 days were full of activity. The main Kirtan stage was quite off schedule after the first day which was a bit distracting not counting the Saturday night rain that caused a major regrouping. It was a lot of waiting around for sound checks I do realize that sound checks take time but it would have been a bit tighter. Also, I don't think that having so many artist onstage jamming together was a bonus..it somewhat but the last "all star-jam" be somewhat ho hum as often "leaders" had all sorts of people sitting in with them and the sound was muttled plus it would contribute to the wait. Over all it was an excellent event. read more

This is an amazing festival of yoga, nationally rekown teacher and musicians, wonderful people, non-stop music, awesome vendors, in one of the most mysteriously beautiful places on earth. It happens in September and For the first time in April 2011. Make some time to visit Joshua tree National Park. Get high on the desert vibe. read more

Bhakti Fest - Moon rise Joshua Tree National Park - Festivals Near Me - Joshua Tree, California

This was my third and likely last time. Kinda feels like an 'ego fest' and the epitome of the western commercialization of yoga. I decided to overlook that part and return again this year for the fantastic kirtan performances but I couldn't even stay for the whole show of one of my favorites due to the milling crowds and people talking all during the performance. It was beyond annoying; it was so disrespectful to the performer and even more importantly, to the sacred nature of the chants being performed. read more

I am a great lover of kirtan, but I won't be back. While I wouldn't expect musicians to be playing their recording sets at an outdoor festival, I was disappointed at the amount of sets, where folks were clearly "winging it." About 1/3 of the performances, folks were playing with most of their regular band members. About 1/3 had some of their crew and played many songs previously run through/rehearsed. But a full 1/3 of the sets were with almost all/all musicians/singers that the lead musician normally didn't work with. Strong musicians can do a lot, but I heard some pretty raggity transitions and several almost "spin outs." Warning - the main stages have "shade", but the awnings only block 50% of the sun's rays. Take an umbrella designed to block heat, if you decide to go. read more

This yoga festival was awful - I really hope the organizers get their act together. It took place on the grounds of an abandoned golf course, so zero ambiance. There were absolutely no indoor spaces, so it was impossible to find relief from the heat and strong wind that would push dust around. The layout was shaped like a ring so the distance between the workshop halls was a 6-7 minute walk; you couldn't pop in or out of workshops whatsoever. The workshop 'halls' were made of scaffolding and tarp that was wind-torn by the third day. The food was affordable but absolutely tasteless (note: I did not try all the vendors). Thankfully, they cleaned the port-a-potties each morning (though by the evening, many of them did not have toilet paper anymore). The "campground" was unbelievably disorganized. No one took charge of helping to park the cars in an organized manner - all they told us was to park anywhere that wasn't 'green' - so cars were scattered all over the place. There was a mobile home community between the campground and the festival, so to get inside you had to walk all the way around and there were no signs indicating which way to go. The worst part was that I purchased a shower pass so when the evening came after a full day of sweat and dust, I walked around the grounds for 30 minutes before someone finally pointed me in the right direction. When I arrived, the showers looked like horse stables and no one was there to turn on the water or help me in any way. Registration did not advise me that showers only operating during particular hours. I could go on and on about all the things that ultimately made me leave early, but the worst part of this festival is the people that attend. Many of the attendees were behaving as if this was a regular music festival and brought drugs and alcohol (which goes against festival rules). The people in the tent next to mine talked and laughed well past 2:00 am and started having sex shortly thereafter. When I tried to shush them, they snapped back and said, "THIS IS A FESTIVAL! DON'T SHUSH ME!" Meanwhile, I was trying to get rest because Sadhana started at 4:30 am. My experience was awful and I will never go back. read more

I do not even know where to begin listing all the things lacking with this year's festival. This was the 3rd year for my mother and I and it was hugely disappointing. This years change to Bhakti fests "new home" was so poorly planned and organized. Sadly we will not be attending next year. Somehow from when we originally purchased our passes to the actual festival date the location changed from Joshua Tree Lake campground and RV park to Roadrunner dunes. Roadrunner dunes is a defunct and barren golf course covered with rabbit droppings (your mat and body will get covered, no way around it), no physical buildings, and no showers unless you had VIP camping. Even with VIP camping we heard that water to showers was not working until day 2 or 3. There was no shelter from the wind or sun. The "campground " was situated on the "greens" between busy roadways and the backs of golf course homes. At times the water station had run out (we had brought our own and our own t.p knowing from previous years to do so) By day 3 there was limited areas they had managed to finally set up so you could sit to eat in the food vendor area. Mainly tables out in the open with a handful of chairs and 1 small pop up tent for shade. We did opt to stay the entire time because my husband brought our 7 year old up to spend Saturday and Sunday with me and grandma. I regret not bringing her last year so she could have truly seen how wonderful a festival it previously was. This year boasted about expanded offerings and the expanded kids land. Kids land was one small tent. Nothing was expanded, if anything offerings were less and the halls where workshops and classes were held looked put together last minute. The previous 2 years we attended it was at the Joshua tree retreat center. It was getting too big for that venue BUT the sense of community, positivity and level of energy in conjunction with the layout of the festival will be a sorely missed aspect of Bhakti. This was a step backwards for this festival. We talked to many unhappy festival goers and vendors alike. It makes one wonder why so many of the prominent teachers and other regular Bhakti presenters were not there. Even though the date was moved later I can't help but wonder if some opted out because of the new home. I really hope enough people take the time to offer feedback. I want the old Bhakti back. Until then I will just hold on to memories of the way it was. I hear the organizer is a gentleman who does not care for the right reasons, it is not about the experience anymore but rather the dollar signs. It used to be worth the cost but this year we felt duped for sure and like we wasted a lot of money for what was provided. The experience left a sad mark on my heart for the future of Bhakti Fest. read more

I will never attend a BhaktiFest event again. I will never say a good thing about a BhaktiFest again. I found staff and organizers unfriendly, lacking compassion, un-helpful to the local community and local yoga establishments and personnel. They are obliviously a FOR-PROFIT outfit and their donations to causes WINDOW DRESSING over their evil. ESAD read more

Sweltering, overflowing port-a-potties without toilet paper in the suffocating heat, sometimes over 115 degrees. Incompetent management that prints out too few schedules leaving hundreds of participants without any idea of what the schedule is exactly. Make no mistake about it, this is very much a for profit business, netting perhaps millions of dollars and the word is that they consistently mistreat the staff and volunteers and often neglect to even pay the staff. Very commercial. I will never come back. read more

My Daughter and I have been to 2 previous festivals that were in Joshua Tree Resort. We had a great time and were so looking forward to our third year. Well let me tell you ...what an absolute horror show. They moved it from the Retreat to an RV park and campground and last to this miserable deserted dilatated golf course. On top of the fact that they changed the original date!!!!! I would have REALLY been pissed if I had booked my flight for the original dates. We get there and camping was a joke. We moved our "site" twice because the Bhakti police kept telling us reasons why we could not camp there. One guy said they moved him 4 times. They had no showers for us unless you wanted to "pay" $8.00 for a communal shower. Sure with my 7 year old granddaughter..... are you kidding me????? Hotter than hell there with no relief or shade to be had. The toilets were overflowing and unusable most of the days. They had no real seating to eat at the food courts. The kids area was supposed to be expanded and I thought it was pitiful and much smaller than the previous site. The vendors were all complaining. You had to walk miles to get from one point to the other and back again in the 100 degree heat. Most of the usual yoga instructors were not there...hummm I wonder why. I could go on for days remembering all the other things that just were not right. I am just thankful for my beautiful Daughter and Granddaughter that made it fun. Unfortunately we will not be back. looking for a different venue for the three of us to go to next year. read more