Tantra retreat that ran into trouble in Goa now courts controversy in Kashmir

A four-day Tantra in Silence retreat in Kashmir's Gurez Valley is causing controversy after organizers and local religious leaders called for a ban on the event. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Kashmir's Chief Cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have both spoken out against the retreat, citing Goa as a similar example that faced public uproar due to its promotional material.

Mufti noted that a comparable Tantra retreat was cancelled in Goa last year for the same reason, prompting the Goa Police to intervene. Gurez is considered a sacred and sensitive region within Kashmir, and both Mufti and Mirwaiz argue that this event threatens the region's religious and cultural values. Mirwaiz even urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take immediate action, while the official Grand Mufti of Jammu & Kashmir expressed concern over the event's suitability for the area and called for transparency regarding the organizers, program details, and permissions granted.

The retreat, promoted as a meditation experience, is scheduled from September 24 to 27 and has raised concerns among local religious leaders about its compatibility with the region's spiritual and cultural heritage.