Bhaktivinoda
Retreat
2026
5-day immersive experience
We warmly invite you to a transformative five-day retreat focused on the life, teachings, songs, and legacy of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
February 15–21, 2026
Surabhi Kunja, Godrumadvipa, India
Rupa Sanatana Academy
- Kirtana & hari-katha (morning & evening)
- Interactive workshops & classes
- Sacred pilgrimages (including to
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s birthplace and samadhi) - Children’s activities
- Maha-prasada (3x daily)
- Accommodation included (on site and near site)
We warmly invite you to a transformative five-day retreat focused on the life, teachings, songs, and legacy of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. What could be more fitting than gathering at Surabhi Kunja, the very place where he composed his writings and performed bhajana? The retreat will be held just prior to the 2026 Navadvipa-dhama Parikrama.
There are only 50 spaces available.
Please register quickly!
Interactive
Workshops & Classes
This retreat celebrates the profound legacy of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura through interactive workshops and classes on his sacred writings, heartfelt songs, and monumental contribution to the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition.
Protecting Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Legacy: Is Prema Foreign to the Self?
with Sundar Gopal das
Drawing on five years of doctoral research, this interactive seminar series offers a robust defense of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s teaching that prema is the intrinsic nature of the self—challenging claims that this was merely metaphorical or an outreach strategy. Presenting new research findings, the series highlights how Thakura Bhaktivinoda provides a profound and faithful synthesis of the earlier acaryas.
The Ten Fundamental Truths: Exploring Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Dasa-Mula-Siksa
with Candramukhi dasi
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura masterfully condensed the vast ocean of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s philosophy into ten core principles. Understanding this framework helps us locate ourselves within the grand tapestry of Mahaprabhu’s teachings in everything we hear, speak, and study.
Bhaktivinoda-Giti-Dhara: Entering the Flow
of His Songs
with Madhukar das and friends
In this series, we’ll explore the moods and meanings within Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s four essential songbooks: Kalyana-kalpataru, Saranagati, Gitavali, and Gitamala.
Expressions of Bhakti: Reflections on Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Prayers
with Radhika dasi and Manjari dasi
Join us for a heart-centered workshop series exploring selected prayers of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Through guided journaling, creative painting, and ista-gosthi discussion, participants will have space to reflect, create, listen, and share the insights that have blossomed throughout the retreat.
Additional guest speakers will be announced soon!
Morning & Evening Program
Each day of the retreat, we’ll gather for three aratis, an uplifting early-morning japa session, and other moments of shared devotion. You’re free to join in as your heart feels inspired.
Our evenings will be especially sweet—singing the heartfelt songs of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, hearing from guest speakers, reflecting together on his timeless guidance in our lives, and concluding with joyous kirtana, arati, and prasada.
Children’s activities
Parents with children are welcome at the retreat, with parents taking turns or working together to look after them. We’ll have a dedicated space for activities like stories, kirtana, garland making, crafts, and more. We’re also exploring the possibility of devotional teachers for mrdanga or dance, which will involve an additional small shared contribution. We’ll share details closer to the retreat. Let us know when registering if you’d like to be part of this parent cooperative.
Why Join this Retreat
This festival is a heartfelt offering from a group of disciples of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami, who are also second-generation devotees, eager to step forward in service of our guru-varga. Our hope is to create a special space—right in Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s own home of Godruma—where we can fully immerse ourselves in his life and teachings. We pray this experience will leave a lasting impression, helping his nurturing guidance take deeper root in our hearts and daily lives.
If this inspires you, we warmly welcome you to join us.
Step 1
Please fill the form below
Step 2
To help cover the expenses of prasada and accommodation, we humbly request a contribution of USD $120 per adult; $80 per child under 16; free for children under five years old. This includes three prasada meals daily, along with (simple) lodging from February 15 (check-in) to February 21 (check-out).
Your offering of support is not just practical—it is an act of service, helping to manifest this retreat in honor of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s life and teachings.
All amounts shown are in US dollars.
$120 per adult (ages 16 and up)
$80 per child (ages 5–15)
Free for children under 5 years old
There are only 50 spaces, so it’s first come, first served!
About
Rupa Sanatana Academy
Bhakti-yoga education and transformative
experiences within a wise and caring community.
Rupa Sanatana Academy is a nonprofit devoted to sharing the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition widely through structured online courses and immersive in-person retreats. Inspired by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja and Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Academy is developing a range of courses—introductory to advanced—taught by distinguished Vaisnava teachers and scholars, making bhakti-yoga education accessible worldwide in a nonsectarian spirit.
Presenters
Madhukar dasa
Sundar Gopal dasa
Chandramukhi dasi
Radhika dasi
