Tonight, America’s Most Haunted Radio host Eric Olsen welcomes Shakti Fest founder Sridhar Steven Silberfein, kirtan music star Donna De Lory, and renowed yoga instructor Sara Ivanhoe to preview this year’s Shakti Fest LIVE on IPBN radio network, and the podcast will be available here.
Shakti Fest celebrates its fifth year May 15-17, at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. One of three annual festivals put on by the Bhakti Fest organization, Shakti Fest is a springtime celebration of the “divine feminine spirit” — described in Hindu philosophy as the “dynamic force that moves the universe” — featuring world-class yoga teachers, kirtan music stars, wisdom workshops, and a healing sanctuary. Says Bhakti Fest founder Sridhar Steven Silberfein, “It’s wonderful that we are able to honor the spirit of the universal mother right around Mother’s Day!”
Among the kirtan (chanting) stars appearing this year are Donna De Lory, Jai Uttal, Masood Al Khan, Saul David Raye, and many more. The age old practice of devotional chanting is thought to connect people with themselves, the universe, and spirit.
Along with music, yoga is the essence of Shakti Fest, and leading teachers include Sara Ivanhoe, Shiva Rae, Mark Whitwell, Yogi Cameron, and more.
Fest producer Sridhar Steven Silberfein has been on a personal spiritual quest for over 40 years while blending a life as a pioneering businessman. In 1969, Sridhar brought Swami Satchidananda to Woodstock, at which time he committed to someday producing the spiritual equivalent of Woodstock, now embodied in the three Bhakti Fests. In 1970 he established the first health food store in Southern California, and brought skin care products with jojoba and tea tree oil to America for the first time. He established the non-profit Center for Spiritual Studies (CSS) and co-founded the Triloka recording label, which has helped launch the careers of today’s most popular kirtan artists.
Donna De Lory has become one of the superstars of world devotional music with a string of hit albums including Bliss (2000), In the Glow (2003), The Lover and The Beloved (2004), Sky is Open (2006), Sanctuary (2008), Remixes (2010) and The Unchanging (2013). Before dedicating her life to sacred music, De Lory traveled the globe for 20 years as a backup singer and dancer for Madonna, appearing in the documentary film Truth or Dare and on stage with the pop icon during numerous legendary tours. Blending styles as diverse as Celtic, Middle Eastern, Indian classical, and contemporary electronica, De Lory’s musical perspective is as wide as the world itself.
Sara Ivanhoe is Yoga Spokesperson for Weight Watchers, most recently releasing the “Weight Watchers Yoga Starter Kit.” She began teaching in 1995 after graduating with honors from New York University. Sara is the instructor for the “Yoga for Dummies” series, the “Crunch Yoga” series, as well as the collaboration with Russell Simmons, “Yoga Live.” She had an extended run on Fit TV with All Star Workouts and on Exercise TV with Yoga on the Edge. Sara was a regular on Vh1’s Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab and is highlighted in the acclaimed documentaries Titans of Yoga and Women of Bhakti.
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