Holi Kirtan Ecstatic Dance with Rubaba

Philadelphia Premiere
A Journey from Shadow to Radiance

As the long winter begins to loosen its grip and the first signs of spring stir beneath the surface, we gather to awaken warmth, color, and devotion from within. Rooted in Bhakti Yoga—the path of love and devotion—this Holi gathering is an embodied return to the heart, where sound becomes prayer and love becomes the bridge back to ourselves and one another.

Inspired by Holi—the ancient festival celebrating renewal, transformation, and the triumph of light—this intimate journey invites us to move from stillness into expression, from dormancy into bloom, remembering love as a living force that dissolves separation.

Tantra Collective is honored to host Rubaba for his Philadelphia premiere, offering a rare opportunity to experience this internationally recognized, genre-breaking artist in a small, immersive setting.

A beloved Interfusion Festival favorite, Rubaba is known for his soul-healing, rockin’ ecstatic kirtan—weaving Indian classical roots, global devotional music, and Naad Yoga into live, responsive sound journeys that blur the line between artist and participant. In this close-knit container, his work becomes deeply personal, guiding the collective into embodied devotion, emotional alchemy, and shared resonance.

This intimate Philadelphia premiere is intentionally limited to preserve depth, connection, and care.

This is not a performance; it is a living ceremony—
where rhythm opens the heart, movement liberates the body,
and love is remembered not as an idea, but as a felt experience—
both the source and the return.

What to Expect

Opening Circle—Arriving in the Heart
The ceremony begins in intentional gathering, guided by Elana Stern, founder of Tantra Collective. Through grounding meditation and shared presence, we arrive together—crossing the threshold from the outer world into sacred space, opening the heart, and setting collective intention for the journey ahead.

Ecstatic Kirtan—Song of Devotion
Led by Rubaba, with devotional accompaniment by Mahan Rishi Singh Khalsa on bansuri flute and tabla, the journey opens through collective chant—a Bhakti offering that awakens the heart through sound. Through ecstatic kirtan, we invoke Shiva—the Great Transformer—consciously dissolving what no longer serves and clearing space for renewal. Voices rise, overlap, and soften into one another until devotion becomes communal—the “I” melting into the “We.”

Ecstatic Dance—Devotion in Motion
From voice, we move into the body. Guided by Rubaba’s genre-breaking live rhythms and supported by live instrumentation, a soul-awakening fusion of organic, global sound invites conscious, expressive dance. This is a space beyond words and judgment, where rhythm leads and the body remembers how to move in freedom, play, and presence—celebrating Holi as a living expression of joy and love in motion.

Sound Hypnotics—Swara Samadhi
The journey resolves into the subtler layers of sound, guided by Rubaba with live accompaniment. Through Naad Yoga—the yoga of sound and vibration—we enter deep listening and resonance. Guided vocal tones explore Shruti, the microtonal textures of sound, each carrying a unique emotional and energetic signature. As breath and vibration align, sound becomes an alchemy for the soul—transforming inner tension into harmony and opening the way to effortless stillness, where sound, silence, and self merge into Anahata Naad, the unstruck sound.

Closing Circle & Collective Nourishment—Integration and Connection
We gently complete the ceremonial journey in a closing circle led by Elana, honoring the shared field of devotion and presence. From this place of grounded stillness, we move into collective nourishment—sharing a lovingly prepared, Ayurvedic-inspired vegan and gluten-free kitchari dinner by Butterfly Heart, alongside authentic Indian offerings from Tiffin.This time of intentional connection supports integration, digestion, and community—allowing the resonance of the experience to settle fully into the body and heart.

How to Prepare

Wear comfortable clothing for free movement
Dress colorfully to celebrate Holi
Bring water bottle and anything that supports your presence
Bring a cushion or backjack to sit comfortably on the ground
A percussive instrument is encouraged for the collective pulse
A shawl or warm layer is recommended for quieter moments
Arrive fresh, clean, and free of strong scents and odors
Tune in with an open heart and a listening body

No prior experience with kirtan, chanting, or ecstatic dance is needed.
All voices, bodies, and expressions are welcome.

Come to thaw.
Come to move.
Come to remember love—
not as an idea, but as a felt, embodied truth we return to together.

Contact the host of Holi Kirtan Ecstatic Dance with Rubaba

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