Bhajan Clubbing in an Age of Burnout

Bhajan clubbing may look like a cultural revival, but it feels more like a movement. Part singalong, part meditation, these gatherings replace strobe lights with rhythm, alcohol with chai, and distraction with shared stillness. The crowd is telling: 18- to 26-year-olds sit shoulder to shoulder with those aged 35 and above, united not by nostalgia, but by participation.

As sibling duo Prachi and Raghav, better known as Backstage Siblings, move seamlessly between bhajans and old Bollywood favourites on stage, the audience sings along—often louder than the performers themselves. What began as small living-room sessions of around 70 people in Kolkata has grown into a nationwide tour, helping popularise bhajan jamming among Gen Z and millennials searching for meaning beyond mainstream nightlife.

“We see bhajan jamming as a paradigm shift that’s unfolding right now and is here to stay,” say Prachi and Raghav. “It goes beyond embracing culture. It’s about embracing yourself, finding a pause in a hectic, chaotic world, and giving yourself an hour to simply be present.”

Keshavam is pushing the format further. Blending bhajans with modern rock, the group has been drawing full houses to its bhajan clubbing events, or sankirtans, across cities. Formed two years ago and fronted by singers Lovish Sheetal and Prakriti Sharma Arora, the band believes the movement is more than a passing trend.

“EDM and hip hop give adrenaline,” the band says. “Bhajans give emotion, belonging, and meaning. When presented with the same production value and intensity, they hit even harder. Bhajan clubbing lets people feel proud of their roots without feeling boxed in. It’s not about replacing playlists, it’s about expanding them.”

Why it resonates now

Ironically, what began as a niche social media curiosity has emerged as a new cultural language for a generation that lives much of its life online. Psychologists note that growing up in a digital-first world of constant stimulation, FOMO, and dopamine-driven scrolling has left many young people craving two essentials: inner calm and genuine human connection. Seeking grounding without rigid religious structures, many are finding meaning in bhajan satsangs and bhajan clubbing, which now make clear psychological sense.

Clinical psychologist and life coach Dr Kanan K Chikhal says the format allows young people to experience spirituality without sermons. “One can feel devotion without being told what to believe,” she explains. “The modern, high-energy formats blend bhajans with club-style beats this generation is already used to. The experience offers grounding without preaching, and a sense of belonging to one’s roots in a unique way.”

She adds that repetitive chants, rhythm, and collective singing anchor the mind in the present, regulate the nervous system, and allow emotional release—often making these gatherings feel safer and more nourishing than conventional nightlife.

As reels of clapping crowds slipping into a collective trance circulate online, sceptics are steadily turning into believers. Prachi, a 50-year-old media specialist, recalls initially resisting bhajans set. “I couldn’t sit through satsangs earlier,” she says. “But hearing these songs during a yoga class calmed my nervous system. I eventually began to enjoy them.”

Twenty-six-year-old content creator Darshika describes a similar shift. “I went to my first bhajan jam in Mumbai with hesitation. But my scepticism gave way to inner calm, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”

Bhajan clubbing with chai is now seen as cooler than smoky nightclubs. For Keshavam, the turning point came when repeat crowds and steady ticket demand proved it had become a genuine preference, not just curiosity.

“We realised we weren’t just performing bhajans,” the band says. “We were helping shape a new kind of night out.”

For once, a trend appears to have near-universal approval. In a restless age, the draw is simple: a high without alcohol, built on music, voices, and shared stillness. Perhaps it’s time to book a seat at the next gig.