We are Adhyatma and Anna Abria, two friends living on the Kāpiti Coast above Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. The practice of kirtan is a deep passion for both of us, and we are part of the Kapiti Kirtan Collective, a group devoted to sharing devotional music and kirtan with the local community.

Kirtan Fest Aotearoa came into being over a cuppa while camping by the beach in Taranaki in January 2025. Anna had just spent a week immersed in the Universal Dances of Peace, and Adhyatma was on her way home from a joyful family road trip. As we sat together by the sea, ideas and visions began to flow naturally — and Kirtan Fest Aotearoa was born.

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From the very beginning, the vision for Kirtan Fest has been about community, joy, connection, and the opportunity to share lots and lots of kirtan. Call-and-response chanting is a simple yet powerful practice that invites everyone to participate, regardless of musical experience. Voices join together, hearts open, and a shared field of devotion and presence begins to emerge.

Above all, we wanted the experience to be nourishing and rejuvenating. In modern life our nervous systems are under constant pressure, and we envisioned a festival where people could truly relax, unwind, and reconnect. When we move into the parasympathetic state — the body’s natural rest and restore mode — creativity, joy, and connection arise naturally.

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And this is precisely what happened, far beyond our expectations.
We are deeply grateful to all the wonderful karma yogis and facilitators who supported us across the four days, offering their time, energy, and love to help the festival flow so beautifully. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Strathean Retreat Centre, whose profoundly beautiful and energetically aligned land provided the perfect home for the gathering.

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