Chill meets chant: Bhajan Clubbing is the new cool scene

Gen Z’s weekends are taking a spiritual turn. Youngsters are no longer spotted only in cafes or nightclubs, many are now choosing bhajan clubbing and jamming sessions, sitting together in groups and chanting devotional songs in a calm, incense-filled setting.From celebrity sightings at kirtan concerts to a growing stream of online clips showing young people vibing to devotional music, social media is filled with videos of youth at spiritual concerts and chanting circles. As bhajan clubbing went viral, Lucknow Times spoke to famous kirtan artist Radhika Das, event company founders and a sibling duo running a popular jamming community to understand youngsters shift towards this new spiritual subculture.

“The current generation is craving for something real"Radhika Das, a London-based kirtan artist and Bhakti yoga teacher whose concerts are now attended by many youngsters, says the shift is due to the current generation's craving for something real. Answering to what is motivating the shift towards bhajan clubbing and spiritual concerts, he says, “Gen Z has grown up amidst endless noise, content, comparison, and hustle culture, and yet they’re feeling more disconnected than ever.

Spiritual music and kirtan gatherings offer a unique presence, emotion and belonging. When people chant together, something shifts because you’re not performing; you’re participating. There’s no hierarchy. Everyone becomes part of the same vibration. It gives young people a place to feel seen without needing to be impressive.” Traditional bhajan gatherings are deeply rooted in culture, while bhajan clubbing brings that devotion into a contemporary space.

“With sound systems, lighting, ambience and production, the atmosphere feels familiar to young people and creates room for movement, dance and expression, along with static sitting. The setting may have evolved, but the intention remains spiritual,” says Radhika.

Radhika credits social media for making spirituality cool again,“Social media has removed the entry barrier to spirituality, made sacred sound part of everyday lifestyle, and allowed devotional artists to reach listeners directly.

It has shifted devotional music from temples to timelines, and young people are realising that spirituality is not old-fashioned anymore, but it’s transformative,” he says.“It is not about replacing tradition but about reinterpreting it in a way that speaks to youngsters.”Raghav and Prachi, the backstage sibling duo whose bhajan jamming videos with a caption 'kaise hogi clubbing if this is our vibe', are taking rounds on social media where a group of youngsters are spotted grooving on bhajans talking to us shared that Bhajan Clubbing is changing the idea that devotion is something meant for later stage of life.

“The trend is not about replacing tradition but about reinterpreting it in a way that speaks to Gen Z's lifestyle.

Earlier, devotional music or bhajans were often a thing you attended only with your parents. Over the years, there was also a drift between Gen Z and devotional music. However, with bhajan jamming sessions presenting devotional music with a modern twist in new spaces, youngsters are now enjoying it with their friends, making it cool enough to be part of their lifestyle.

All kinds of communities come together to sing along from bhajans, chants, to Sufi songs, Kabir dohas and sometimes even Bollywood soft songs. It’s now an equivalent outing to a clubbing night or a partying night. When 100 people are sitting together on the floor, singing the same song, it gives them a moment to disconnect and the joy of collective devotion,” shares Raghav in a conversation with us.

Having sold out shows in Dubai and Singapore, Raghav reveals how Gen Z largely dominates the footfall in their events, " Ever since we started jamming a year ago, around 70% of our audience has been Gen Z.

In cities like Mumbai, tickets are sold out completely within 24 hours. The surge in the trend is also attributed to the overconsumption of the idea that you cannot enjoy without being intoxicated, as 99 per cent of events surround youngsters.

Now they have found a way to detox through devotion,'' he adds.“The demand has led us to focus heavily on bringing in more artists in this category"Event organisers say the rising demand is already reshaping event curation.

Mohit Bijlani, Founder of the private events company Team Innovation Cultural, shares that organisers are increasingly incorporating devotional artists into their lineups, recognising youths liking for this genre. “By blending traditional devotional music with contemporary styles, we’re not just attracting dedicated listeners but also engaging a broader demographic that seeks relevance and resonance in their entertainment.

The primary age group we’re seeing at these events is between the late teens and the early 40s,'' he says.

Echoing the same shift in the concert economy, Deepak Chaudhary, Founder and MD of Eva Live, an events company in Mumbai, is witnessing the trend firsthand, “Spirituality and devotional music in concert culture reflects how well the concert economy is growing. Today’s youth is grounded and wants to experience something real. Like Krishna Das, whose tickets are always sold out in tier 1 cities, or the Backstage Siblings gaining spotlight, if more artists in this format are created, this will not remain just a trend.

The demand has led us to focus on this category very heavily, and we are bringing in more artists from India and abroad,'' says Deepak Chaudhary.

“At least bhajan clubbing is one Gen Z trend parents are happy about."Ameira Punvani, a Lucknowite who attended a Krishna Das concert last year in Mumbai sitting next to Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, describes the recent trend as a call for a positive change. "I went to a Krishna Das concert last year, and it was such a beautiful experience.

The energy was both meditative and electric; you could really feel everyone surrendering to the music. I think people today crave that sense of calm and collective connection.

It’s less about religion and more about finding joy and peace through rhythm and devotion," she adds.For Twinkle, 27, who attended the Backstage Siblings’ bhajan jamming session in Kolkata, it is a refreshing change for the generation. “When you go to a cafe or night clubbing, there is always an absence of peace of mind.

These weekend devotional jamming sessions are the detox we need after a week of working. We can sing along and do chants with our friends in a group; there is a sense of belonging, and the music creates a different vibe especially in these times of social media isolation.

These jamming sessions are definitely Gen z new found ways to restore their mental well-being."She further adds, " When you tell your parents you’re going for bhajan jamming with friends, they're astounded too. At least this is one trend parents are happy about, and they don't have a reason to say no."- Amina Ashraf