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Host rating
65 %
Last replied
23 Feb 2024
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Description
Note: If you are not able to make it here but still want to connect for learning and exchange online, then that's possible too. Feel free to reach out.
Here's a bit about the ashram:
This is a small Ashram for musicians and spiritual seekers and a cultural research centre.
I am a mystic, musician, writer and a software architect who has travelled extensively in almost all states of India and lived in few other countries in Europe (Denmark, England, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden) and Thailand learning and giving spiritual assistance. I did a five year research in Raj yoga, Gyan yoga, Advaita Vedanta, Buddhism (Dzogchen) and Sufism while living at different ashrams and monasteries including the ones in Himalayas, Ajmer and Arunachala (Ramana Ashram).
We come from an artistic background where my father has been a music teacher for more than 40 years in this town as well as in Kuwait for 12 years.
I am a grade-5 certified classical guitarist and a Hindustani semi-classical singer. We have a Music school in Bhilai since past 40 years and a Music studio in Bollywood, Mumbai, from past 10 years.
Have been involved in giving spiritual assistance/guidance to spiritual seekers and artists from past 8 years along with teaching music from past 20 years.
What differentiates this town, Bhilai, from the rest of India is that it's a small cosmo-politan township formed 60 years ago by collaboration between Indian and Russian govt. It has a population of 1 million. Hence it is one of the very few multi-ethnic planned township in India and full of greenery, clean, surrounded by lake and river. Life is slow here conducive for those who seek spiritual immersion with minimal and basic life comfort.
Bhilai is well connected to all major cities by roads, trains and flights (nearest international airport Raipur 40 km away). Nagpur, India's biggest hub of train networks, is three and half hours away.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Elderly Companionship
Teaching
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
This town will give you a glimpse of whole of India as the residents here migrated from all parts of India 60 years ago. Hence you can mingle with locals to learn about different states they come from, their different languages and also try their cuisines if you are quite friendly.
You will learn about Indian music from pop to classical and meet various local artists here.
Delicious Indian cuisine can be enjoyed and learnt.
Help
You are welcome to share your cultural details and artistic talent or any other skill with our few music students and other local friends and people from the town.
You can take a free workshop for the local children and residents on any form of arts, spirituality, music, cooking healthy meals, sharing your travel experience, your life back home telling about your education and work experience there, your future plans off-maintream or any other skills/knowledge that can inspire young listeners to look for opportunities beyond conventional life choices.
You will have an opportunity to interact with locals of diverse ethnicity and understand their culture, issues they are facing at various levels, what is their definition of happiness and so on.
You can accompany us for a few household shopping from a nearby market (300m) and help in cooking if you want.
'Nikson' or doing nothing is also accepted if you seek slow and deep immersion into the place.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Hindi: Fluent
Urdu: Fluent
Accommodation
It's a double-storyed house with small gardens at the front and backyard in the ground floor where we stay, a family of three - Father, Mother and Myself, 35 year old male.
Top floor where you will be staying has a hall, two open rooms, a terrace and a balcony. Music classes happen in the hall twice for around one to two hours in morning and evening.
Indian Food will be served three times.
Tea at 8am
Breakfast around 9.
Lunch around 1:30.
Dinner around 9.
You are free to lead cooking your own local meals and share it with our family of three.
Western/Chinese food can be ordered online from local restaurants.
What else ...
During free time you can enjoy
- Reading, meditating or practising your own thing.
- Exploring the streets, sectors, parks,
local street food, temples, ashrams, churches, mosque, zoo, lake, river.
- Public/private transport available and if you want I will be happy to show you around provided I am available too.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week
