Ananda Kalyani

Ananda Kalyani is a project on about 36 hectares of forested hillside and valley at Ourondo, near Covilhã, in the Serra da Estrela mountains. It follows the neohumanistic values of Ananda Marga, a global spiritual and social service organisation. After its foundation, more than 10 years ago, land that had been abandoned has been turned into a place where overall regeneration took place. The land has retreat facilities and hosts events, workshops and regular retreats, as well as the annual Ananda Festival of Bliss. There's a berry orchard, vegetable gardens, a tree and seed nursery and agroforestry demonstration plots. A veg sattvik kitchen serves residents, staff, volunteers and guests, and an astonishing Guesthouse is ready to receive our visitors. There's also a beautiful and peacefull small beach on the land, Ribeira Caia. The wider project also includes Pequena Ilha Verde, a forest school for children based on neohumanistic values, and the Ananda Café, a vegan restaurant in the nearby city. The project works from the conviction that ecological, social, economic and inner crises are closely connected and have to be dealt with together. Spiritual growth, an ethical economy and regenerative living are part of everyday life, through meditation, collective work, learning and service. Ananda Kalyani is guided by spiritual leadership. Decisions are taken with long-term impact in mind, and people take part on the basis of shared values and commitment. The project openly invites those ready to live differently: to take part rather than watch, to contribute rather than consume, and to grow through service. The project also produces devotional music. This includes the *kiirtan* EP *1st Bouquet*, recorded on site as part of its collective spiritual practice.