Tantra in Silence' Retreat Sparks Religious and Political Firestorm in Kashmir's Gurez Valley

SRINAGAR — A proposed meditation retreat titled "Tantra in Silence" has ignited a fierce controversy in Kashmir, with top religious and political leaders demanding its immediate cancellation and calling the event a threat to the valley's cultural and spiritual ethos.

The four-day event, scheduled from September 24 to 27, 2026, in the Gurez Valley along the Line of Control in Bandipora district, is being organized by Swami Dhyan Sumit of the Shree Rajneesh Foundation (also referred to as Rajneesh Tantra Temple).

According to promotional posters circulated on social media, the retreat requires registration with a payment of ₹11,995 per person.

The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from across the political and religious spectrum. Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti was among the first to raise the alarm, urging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Jammu and Kashmir Police to "intervene immediately and take appropriate action."

Mufti referenced a similar retreat organized by the same group that was cancelled in Goa last year after its "obscene promotional material sparked widespread controversy," necessitating police intervention.

"Gurez is no playground for experiments in the name of spirituality or tourism," she stated, emphasizing that the sensitive border region should not be used for such purposes.

Religious Leaders Unite in Opposition
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir's chief cleric and head of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (an amalgam of approximately 50 religious organizations across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh), strongly endorsed Mufti's concerns.

"Kashmir is the land of sufis and saints. Here spirituality is experienced, not marketed at a cost!" the Mirwaiz declared.

He argued that tourism promotion cannot become an excuse to undermine the region's religious, cultural, and social ethos.

Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, another prominent religious authority, termed Gurez as "a precious part of Kashmir's heritage, not a laboratory for spiritual or commercial experiments."

He emphasized that Kashmir's hospitality should never be interpreted as indifference to its moral and cultural character.

"Gurez is not merely a tourist destination. It is part of the sacred cultural landscape of Kashmir, a land shaped by generations of faith, scholarship and spiritual tradition," the Grand Mufti stated in a detailed appeal.

He called upon the Chief Minister, J&K Police, and district administration to verify the organizers, examine the complete program and its promotional material, ascertain the permissions granted, and ensure that no activity contrary to law or the legitimate religious and cultural sensitivities of the people is permitted.

Government Response
In the face of mounting pressure, the Bandipora district administration issued a clarification on Saturday night, stating that the retreat was "unauthorised."

"No permission has been granted to the said event by District Administration Bandipora. Public/tourists are advised not to rely on or share such unauthorised promotional claims," the administration announced.

The controversy highlights the ongoing tension in Kashmir between tourism development and the preservation of traditional cultural and religious values.

Gurez Valley, located in a sensitive border area along the Line of Control, holds strategic and cultural significance, making the proposed event particularly contentious.

The organizers have not yet issued a public response to the backlash or the administration's clarification that no permissions were granted for the event.