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Discover how Bhajan Clubbing is transforming spirituality for Gen Z. Insights from Giresh Vasudev Kulkarni and Manu Jain on why devotional music is resonating with today’s youth.
Bhajan Clubbing captures a new cultural rhythm, where devotion meets contemporary expression.
For decades, India’s spiritual fabric has remained rooted in tradition, temples, satsangs, jagrans and devotional gatherings that carried forward centuries of cultural practice. But a cultural shift is underway. Across urban centres, a new kind of spiritual expression has emerged, one that swaps smoke-filled dance floors for rhythmic devotion, replaces intoxication with intention and turns age-old bhajans into high-energy, collective experiences. This phenomenon, popularly called “Bhajan Clubbing,” is redefining what spirituality looks like for Gen Z and millennials.
What appears at first glance like a novelty is in fact a response to deeper cultural currents, changing social habits, digital transformation, and a renewed search for meaning among India’s youth.
A Tradition Reimagined, Not Replaced
Giresh Vasudev Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connect & ITCX International Temples Convention & Expo, explains that the roots of Bhajan Clubbing run deep. “Traditionally, gatherings like kirtan or satsang have always brought people into shared spaces of positivity and collective energy. What we realised is that when people come together with the intention of engaging in something meaningful, these spaces become powerful channels for spiritual alignment,” he says. Bhajan Clubbing, he argues, is simply a modern expression of an ancient impulse, a desire for community, rhythm and devotion.
The movement’s appeal lies in its intuitiveness. Young people today want experiences that feel authentic, social and emotionally uplifting. In an age dominated by overstimulation, devotional music offers grounding. When paired with contemporary staging, high production value and an immersive ambience, it becomes both familiar and exciting, a bridge between heritage and modernity.
Digital Culture and the Viralization of Devotion
Unlike previous generations, Gen Z consumes spirituality through a screen before they ever step into a temple. According to Kulkarni, the rise of smartphones has completely reshaped how devotional content is experienced. He notes that, “Earlier, spiritual content was limited, no mobile phones, no instant data. Today, everyone is a creator and broadcaster.” This shift has brought devotional music into everyday life, not as a private ritual but as a public, shareable identity marker.
A striking example is the resurgence of the Hanuman Chalisa, now one of the most streamed devotional pieces online. Its rhythm, visual adaptations and cinematic renditions play effortlessly into Gen Z’s content instincts, short, energetic, emotionally charged.
This digital-first spiritual revival is exactly what allows Bhajan Clubbing to thrive. A single viral clip from a kirtan can inspire thousands to attend the next one, turning devotion into a participatory cultural moment.
A Purposeful Alternative to Nightlife
While the roots of Bhajan Clubbing are devotional, its rapid growth also reflects an evolving social landscape. Manu Jain, Co-Founder, VAMA.app, highlights a striking behavioural shift:
“A significant number of Gen Z and millennials are adopting low-alcohol or sober lifestyles, prioritising mental health and wellbeing. They’re choosing spaces where they can connect meaningfully rather than just socially.”
Bhajan Clubbing manages to offer the energy and excitement of a night out, but replaces chaos with consciousness. It satisfies the youth’s appetite for community while aligning with their values of mindfulness, intentionality and emotional clarity. As Jain notes, “There’s a genuine hunger for authenticity and connection—both with culture and with oneself.”
In many ways, Bhajan Clubbing is becoming the social alternative for a generation tired of overstimulation and performative partying.
From Niche Movement to Cultural Shift
The scale of participation proves this is no passing trend. Kulkarni points to Radhika Das’s recent kirtan at Yashobhoomi in Delhi, which drew between 8,000 and 15,000 young attendees, one of the largest youth-led devotional gatherings in recent times. Tickets for similar events are selling out instantly, driven by real-time sharing, influencer amplification and digitally savvy devotees.
“This isn’t an isolated phenomenon,” Kulkarni explains. “It marks a clear shift from traditional jagrans to high-energy ‘bhajan clubbing’ formats. With over 100 such events listed on SortMyScene, it’s now a cultural movement.”
Economically too, the impact is significant. India’s spiritual and devotional market, already valued at USD 58.5 billion, is growing at 10% annually. And young people are driving this resurgence, choosing shlokas and kirtans over late-night partying.
Technology as an Enabler, Not a Substitute
While physical gatherings grow, the digital ecosystem around spirituality is expanding rapidly. Through VAMA.app, Jain and his team are making devotional practices more accessible than ever. “Whether it’s booking a puja at a temple miles away, watching it live via geotagged video, or consulting vetted astrologers on your phone, we’re removing the friction that once made spiritual practices feel inaccessible,” he says. Technology, in his view, is a tool for democratising devotion, not replacing it.
This hybrid spiritual future, part digital, part physical is exactly where modern gatherings are heading. From online pujas to rooftop kirtans, from co-working space satsangs to immersive bhajan concerts, spirituality is loosening its boundaries without losing its essence.
A New Blueprint for Contemporary Spirituality
Both Kulkarni and Jain agree that the future of spiritual gatherings in India will be immersive, culturally rooted and deeply personalised. Kulkarni emphasises infrastructure, safety and sustainability as the movement scales, “Devotion deserves infrastructure. If devotional concerts are becoming India’s new-age cultural festivals, they must be the most responsibly managed events.”
Jain, meanwhile, points to an emerging aspiration among young Indians, “People want experiences that leave them feeling fulfilled, not depleted. Bhajan Clubbing offers joy and community with a deeper purpose.”
This convergence of tradition, technology and youthful energy marks the beginning of India’s next spiritual renaissance.
Conclusion: When Devotion Becomes Culture, Not Obligation
Bhajan Clubbing isn’t a rebellion against tradition, it’s a revival of it, translated into a language young people understand. It honours the depth of Indian spirituality while embracing modern creativity. It provides a sober, conscious alternative to nightlife without sacrificing celebration. And most importantly, it creates a sense of belonging that today’s youth deeply crave.
Gen Z isn’t moving away from spirituality; they’re reclaiming it on their own terms, joyful, communal, expressive and profoundly contemporary.
This is not just a trend. It is India’s new cultural rhythm where devotion and modern life dance in sync.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 08, 2025, 20:53 IST