ABOUT

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Sant-Sewa festival is an artist-led initiative to transform Sant Sewa Ashram in Rishikesh into an art gallery, full of music, traditional and contemporary dance performance and magic on the bank of the holy river Ganges.

In November 2020 the festival showcased some of the most authentic alternative artists - both local and international. From Randy Getty leading the way with his murals all over the town to Inessa Garder with her mesmerising creations in oils, Dina Blinkova blending contemporary dance plastic with traditional Indian gestures and Prince Insanez improvising in his unique "sacred move" style, with Acharya Anuragi on the mike, Pablo ji Musicforpeace with his enchanting violin tunes...and many others. The spirit of this event was created by the unrepeatable atmosphere of Rishikesh and shared by hundreds of visitors.

In November 2021 the festival continued carrying on its mission to promote the most committed and most talented alternative creatives on this international platform for the arts, encompassing Konstantin Frolov's mesmerising sound and digital art performance, Islam Khusnetdinov's bold mixed-media collages about his imaginary journeys, Lina Smal's deeply moving emotional photography, Elena Noire's daring painting performance and...many other talents. This year, the festival attracted even more international visitors and creators.

In November 2022 we saw the festival expand with such mediums as video art, digital painting, and theatrical dance performances. The number of visitors almost doubled in comparison to our opening in 2022 and we were pleased to host a lot of international visitors and artists as well as quests from nearby Delhi and even Mumbai.

In November 2023 the sections of monochrome art as well as digital art were added, highlighted by the works of Samarj Kamal and Milenina Valeriia. This year we aimed to bring in many new names to the festival and solidify its international character, making India a place of peace and collaboration as well as a spiritual search for artists from all over the world.

Application & Selection Process for the Sant Sewa Prize

The Sant Sewa Prize is awarded annually to outstanding artists and curators in visual arts, photography, video, music, curatorial projects and dance, recognizing their contributions to the creative world. Artists interested in being considered for this award can apply directly through the official Sant Sewa Festival website by submitting a portfolio of their work and a statement outlining their artistic vision to info@santsewafestival.com. All applications undergo a rigorous selection process, ensuring that only the most impactful and innovative artists are recognized.

The prize is adjudicated by a distinguished jury panel, which includes Mathieu Picault (FR), Randy Getty (US), and Rajesh Chandra (IN)—renowned artists, curators, and organizers with extensive experience in the global arts community. Their collective expertise ensures a fair and thoughtful evaluation of all submissions, maintaining the festival’s high standards of artistic excellence.

Winning the Sant Sewa Prize brings numerous benefits, including heightened visibility within the artistic community, networking opportunities with industry leaders, media exposure, and potential career-enhancing opportunities.

The purpose of this artist-led initiative is to create a new space for artistic self-expression based on authenticity and spirituality. We take advantage of the rich culture of Rishikesh and Indian heritage to give this opportunity to share their message to alternative artists from India and all over the world, who have an authentic voice and something important to say.

Our location in the famous Sant Sewa Ashram right on the bank of the Holy River with the spacious rooftop for workshops and dance and many other unique spaces allows us to create truly unique soulful events leaving the visitors with unforgettable memories.

We believe in diversity in the arts and we accept artists regardless of their age, nationality, religion, gender, etc. Sant Sewa Festival is a vibrant platform to cherish and celebrate international friendships and to have artistic people come together as one nation. This universe was made to celebrate creativity. So let's all come together and celebrate, in Rishikesh, the world's capital for yoga, meditation and spirituality.