Bliss In The Heart of Mullumbimby
“The House of Bliss" is a community kirtan event held in Mullumbimby town, the heart of Byron Shire, Australia. It runs annually between March and November on fortnightly Fridays from 7pm to 9pm. This gathering was started in 2013 by kirtan leader Sangeeta Lavin. It is a non-profit volunteer-run community event that welcome people from all walks of life.
Presented consistently, and with an ever-increasing number of participants, it is sustained through a collaboration between The House of Bliss Productions and Alice Miyagawa of ShrineRiver Soundscapes.
Every end of the year, they celebrate with a ten-hour Chanting Festival, the only one of its kind in the Byron Shire.
Born from the desire to create and share common sacred space, people gather to chant together for around two hours. Chanting also known as Kirtan, is a tool from the Bhakti Yoga tradition of India, chanting serves to dissolve separation and judgement in a participatory collective experience. Using the medicinal power of music and breath through the repetition of mantra and the many names of the divine, we come together.
In a call and response style we sing simple melodies to ancient formulas (mantras) that harmonize, align and heal the illusion of separation between us. Come and enjoy!
Rather than a performance with audience and musicians separated, chanting brings participants and musicians together as one united voice. Here you have the opportunity to allow yourself the freedom to sing from your heart the praises of your own divine essence, uplift yourself and create community – a revolutionary act of devotion in an overly stressed, overly materialistic world.
This event is maintained through the kind generosity of the community of local musicians, band leaders, volunteers and the event organizers, who keep offering their heart for everyone else to join in. If you would like to join the Bliss Team to help year-round with admin or décor roles, or volunteer sometime in exchange for entry, please make contact in advance.A great way to connect more deeply with people through community co-operation.
Vision:
- Uplift and Strengthen the Community
- Create a Temple Heart Space Within the Community.
- Promote Chanters, Kirtan and Devotional music.
- Created a place of reunion in the spirit of Peace and Joy.
Mission:
Cultivate the knowledge and love for Silence through Music of Divine Love. Romancing the invisible through Chant.
Provide a place for the Whole Community to experience the Healing Power of Chanting regularly.
Include and connect the larger community of chanters and Kirtan leaders to expand the knowledge, modalities and love for this practice and its essence among new people and declared Kirtan lovers.
Everyone is INVITED!
Let’s CHANT!!
St Martins Parish Hall, 42 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby
Doors open 6.30pm for chai and treats Chanting from 7pm to 9pm Contribution $15
For comfort bring a cushion or blanket, and a cup for the sake of the environment.
The House of Bliss Facebook Page
https://www.instagram.com/houseofblisskirtan
CONTACT HOUSE OF BLISS
Send a message via the Facebook page
or Email: houseofblisskirtan@gmail.com
or Sangeeta at mailto:sangeeta@thehouseofbliss.com.au
Previous events
LET'S CHANT. LET'S DANCE. LET'S MEDITATE ON SOUND AND SILENCE WITH PEACE AND LOVE EVER-EXPANDING, HERE WE GO INTO THE BLISS.....
Everyone's invited to the House of Bliss Annual Chanting Festival. Do join us for a ONE FULL DAY of continuous chanting together in Mullumbimby, the spiritual heart of Byron Shire.
SATURDAY 9 of DECEMBER.
Now in its fifth year, this is always a fantastic year-end celebration, a kirtan gathering where Bhakti musicians play almost non-stop for ten hours, supporting all those present as we chant sacred sounds and the names of the divine.
In the true spirit of Bhakti (devotion), we will be sharing a richness of both traditional and modern kirtan from various lineages, chanting mantra medicine, and sinking deep into silence between chants.
Within a safe space of devotion, lovingly decorated for comfort and ease, kirtan gives us the chance to lift our spirits. We can join together with our voices, hearts, and prayers of healing, joy, and peace for community and for all beings in the universe.
Throughout the event, deliciously nourishing meals and snacks, refreshing drinks, and fantastic chai will be served by the beautiful Natasha and partner Madhu.
There'll be space for everyone to sit up comfortably all day and into the night with their cushions and chair seating as well, and plenty of space to DANCE!!
Saturday 9 of December Doors open 10:30am Chanting begins 11am to 9pm
Tickets Half-day: 11am-4pm & 4pm-9pm $25; Earlybird $20 Full-day: 11am-9pm $35; Earlybird $30
Purchase tickets online or our fortnightly Friday event in November ( 24 Nov.)
Earlybird tickets available until Sat 25 November.
AN ONGOING CARAVAN
VISION
Be an Itinerant platform of Confluence that travels in Caravan (Convoy) along South America an instance of energy exchange (cross-pollination) that visits Eco Villages, Eco communities, alternative initiatives and regenerates plunging in at energetic locations of activation from the land and from the knowledge of Ancient Cultures. Create bridges among people and communities that are interested in a Sustainable living within South America and the larger International Community, connecting the forces of goodwill.
MISSION
Share Sacred Space with the community, as a foundation for cohesiveness within groups of Human Beings. Share principles and values for the individual and the collective that may help dispel the illusion of separation and awaken to Interdependence and natural Collaboration.(Kirtan,Agni Hotra, Circular Dances and more)
Exchange of resources, provide an avenue for skilled volunteers to show up and come along to provide “the know how “ on areas where it is need it, wherever we are. Be a platform, a place of diffusion of Good ideas and good news.Create instances of connection for like-minded people and their communities.
An invitation for those who want to have a taste of the many gifts of Kirtan, Devotional Music and Chant, for those who will like to include chanting in their Yoga practices or for those who aspire to lead Kirtan. We will facilitate an opportunity for the chanting of sacred mantras the discovery of their meaning and power through direct experience in singing recitation and silence. We will introduce some of the main “Hindu” deities and explore the energies they manifest. Sangeeta offers in this Workshop a humble introduction to Kirtan significance as part of the Bhakti Yoga tradition. An intimate space, a place to get inspired, to share hearts and voice in love song of union and be introduced to the meaning and essence of chanting. We will Lead Kirtan allowing the blend of voice and heart within a smaller more intimate group for all of us to be inspired. Together sing your love and gain confidence in your own practice and in the power of sharing Kirtan.
All Welcome!
The House Of Bliss, Hearts on Fire
Parish Hall, St Martins Alnglican Church, 38 Stuart St, Mullumbimby
Ongoing fortnightly Community Gathering for Chanting and Chant/Dance. Features The House Band: Sangeeta and Friends and Guests Musicians and bands dedicated to Kirtan and Sacred Chant in General.
Chai and Cake to share from 6:30, Chanting begin at 7:00pm sharp. AU$15/10 Contribution BYO cushion and Cup for beverages (whenever possible it prevents wasting).
Volunteers always welcome.
Please parking on the street only and be aware not to obstruct driveways from neighbors, Thank You!
