This past week-end I was again a volunteer at a beautiful festival called Mantrafest taking place in Ariège, just 1.5 hour drive from me.  A friend of mine who was volunteering at the event told me about it in the summer and he persuaded me to go too.

What of course attracted me to this event too is the fact that I would be listening and chanting Mantras with many other like minded people, a yoga community and I was not disappointed indeed.  All the musicians and singers were seriously awesome, the festival goers just as much.

Even though I had to work for a full 5 hour shift every day within a fun but hard-working team, the atmosphere was fantastic everywhere.  I was very lucky to be assigned at the Desserts team (many other volunteers wanted to swap team with me) as we were making delicious vegan desserts all day long: chocolate mousse (the most popular), pear tarte with chocolate on top, chia seeds puddings, carrot cakes, lemon and poppy seeds cakes and energy balls.  Even though I was making them every day, I didn't get tired of tasting them...

After my shifts it was free time to do whatever I liked: attend workshops (BioDanza, Yoga, Meditation, Chanting, Inner Child etc), listen to concerts, dance, chat, have my face painted or relax.  There were many yoga classes in the day starting as early as 8am and all classes were full!

The place where the festival took place was also just perfect for the event: in the middle of a forest in an Eco Village where a small community of people live together. It was the opportunity to learn more about their way of living and meet other beautiful souls.  The entire forest and camping sites were decorated beautifully and there even was a Fairy Path!

The artists who really grabbed my attention were a Mongolian group called Argusan with incredible vocals like you never heard before: you can listen to their music by clicking here.

Then there was Claude Brame who is very famous in France for his very long evenings of Mantra chanting (they can run until the early morning hours).  I fell in love with his music and chanting and intend to attend another one of his concerts very soon.  Absolutely everybody was chanting his beautiful Mantras songs along.  The togetherness and the feeling on oneness he brought amongst us all were just incredible.  I am still smling just thinking about it.  Not only does he sing beautifully, he is also an incredible musician.

And then there was... Kaleyha Sound System made of the duo of Aya Omac and Docteur Sax.  There is no doubt in my mind they were the highlight of the festival for everyone there.  The quality of the music and singing by Aya was from another planet! Goose bumps, jaw dropping, electrifying, it was simply WOW!  Transported by their music and singing, I could not stop dancing, in a trance of pure joy and happiness.  I am glad they kept them for the final night because they were the BEST for me.

I left the place rejoycing with gratitude and wonderment.  The rain, the mud, my wet tent, the insect bites did not matter in those moments and made it an even more special festival.  Beautiful souls, many yoga instructors like me, were met along the way with whom I will keep in touch for sure.

Thank you Universe for bringing me here.  I am already looking forward to the next one!  Maybe next year I will be the instructor offering gentle yoga classes at 8am!

Namaste

Christel

Main photo by Alexandre Sattler, official photographer at the event