More than 90 devotees from Austria, Italy, Malta and Switzerland, as well as parts of southern France and Luxembourg, gathered at Sportcamp Melchtal in Switzerland from 11 to 13 July 2025 to participate in a spiritual family retreat.
Sportcamp is a youth sports and family centre nestled in the picturesque Swiss hamlet of Melchtal amid the Melch valley of central Switzerland.
The shibir, titled ‘Strengthening Families, Securing Futures’, was blessed by the presence of Gnanpriyadas Swami – a senior and learned swami visiting from the US – as well as four swamis from the UK.
Themed around strengthening satsang within families, the spiritual retreat focused on deepening the understanding and application of core satsang practices. Across six sessions, attendees learned about daily puja, arti, thal, ghar sabha, and satsang reading. Each session was designed to provide practical guidance on how families can incorporate these devotional practices together in their homes and ghar mandirs.
Various interactive mediums were used throughout the shibir, including discourses, videos, quizzes, panel discussions, group activities, and workshops. A samuh puja session encouraged many to grow stronger in their personal devotion and spiritual bond with God and the Guru.
The shibir further included sessions emphasising the importance of daily listening to scriptural discourses (katha), attending weekly assemblies (sabha), and strengthening family harmony through collective devotion and shared activities.
In addition to the spiritual sessions, participants enjoyed a picnic by Lake Melch, which included singing and offering thal, as well as outdoor activities such as walks, sports and games, creating a joyful and memorable experience for all the delegates.
Reflecting on the shibir, Smit Thacker, a mother from Vienna, Austria, shared, “This retreat has really helped us understand the value of performing satsang activities as a family. It has brought us closer and inspired us to practise together regularly at home.”
Atit Patel from Zurich, Switzerland, one of the lead volunteers for the event, added, “It was wonderful to see families from different countries come together and experience the joy of satsang. The teamwork and collective spirit throughout the retreat were truly inspiring, embodying Mahant Swami Maharaj’s profound wish of unity amongst us all and growing together spiritually.”
The family retreat provided an invaluable opportunity for devotees to strengthen their spiritual bonds, learn practical ways to enhance their satsang, and create cherished memories together.