Political, religious leaders protest against ‘Tantra in Silence’ event in Kashmir; officials clarify no permission granted

An event to be organised by the Shree Rajneesh Temple (SRT) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gurez valley evoked sharp criticism on Saturday (September 19, 2026) from political and religious leaders who demanded its cancellation following which authorities clarified that no official permission had been granted for the retreat.

A poster showed that Swami Dhyan Sumit, a monk who heads the Shree Rajneesh Foundation, would attend the event titled “Tantra in Silence” from September 24 to 27 in Gurez valley in northern Kashmir. Gurez valley is located in northern Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

In the face of growing criticism, the Bandipora district administration on Saturday night said 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,” said the Bandipora administration.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam were prominent voices who spoke against the event being hosted in the valley.

Earlier in the day, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the J&K Police to “intervene and take appropriate action”. “A similar “Tantra” retreat facilitated by Swami Dhyan Sumit, a self-styled godman promoting a new religion under the Shree Rajneesh Foundation, was cancelled in Goa last year after its obscene promotional material sparked widespread controversy, and Goa Police had to intervene,” said Ms. Mufti.

She said Gurez was no playground for experiments in the name of spirituality or tourism.

Serious concern: Mirwaiz

In similar vein, the Mirwaiz expressed “serious concern” over the proposed event. “Kashmir is the land of sufis and saints. Here spirituality is experienced, not marketed at a cost! Besides, tourism promotion cannot become an excuse to undermine our religious, cultural and social ethos and ignoring our values and sensibilities. The concerned authorities, Mr. Abdullah, should immediately take note and stop this exploitation,” said the Mirwaiz.

Grand Mufti Islam termed Gurez as “a part of the sacred cultural landscape of Kashmir, a land shaped by generations of faith, scholarship and spiritual tradition”. “Gurez’s hospitality must never be understood as indifference to its moral cultural character. Kashmir welcomes guests but it does not surrender its values. Tourism must serve the dignity of the land and its people not become a pretext for introducing practices that are incompatible with their deeply held convictions,” said Mr. Islam.

He called upon the Chief Minister, the police and the administration “to act immediately”. “The authorities should establish the facts: verify the organisers, examine the complete programme 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,” said Mr. Islam.