Still recovering from your New Year’s eve soiree? Gen-Z has brought another viral party trend and it’s unlike any other. Forget the ‘fake weddings’ of 2025 because the generation has changed the definition of partying in nightclubs. Popularised in Ahmedabad, ‘Bhajan Clubbing’ is now real. Dancing to the tunes of devotional songs is the next big party trend, and social media is here for it.
From Bengaluru to Delhi, several young people fill concert halls and ground and groove along to these sobre raves. They aren’t singing raps this time, they are chanting and taking the name of the lord. From Krishna and Shiva to Lord Rama, these bhajans are nothing like what you play at home. Featuring western instruments, beats that will make you dance, and stage lighting which make it feel like a ‘bhajan’ club.
What Bhajan clubbing means for Gen-Z
The sudden turn towards God tells a lot about Gen Z. From questioning their inner truth, to destigmatising mental health, this generation advocates for all. Behind the ‘non chalant’ trends, are several young minds curious to build their own community, driven by spirituality, and spirituality – as they question norms of all sorts.
This alternative-driven option, from EDM raves to vibing to devotional tunes, it has quickly latched on among Indian youths. Commonly called as the ‘sobre rave’ in India, there is a growing increase in such events, pushing India towards a devotional entertainment platform. Devotion, which was once hunted in temples and religious spots, is now being celebrated by the young devotees in concert grounds, stadiums, and fields. While the loud music and lighting may remain common to conventional religious processions, Gen-Z is not afraid to celebrate their bhakti.
‘Sorry state or coolest thing’: Internet divided
With several opinion floating about on social media, the netizens seem to be fundamentally divided on the bhajan clubbing trend. Neither is it a conventionally dark and closed place with the smell of alcohol in the room, nor is it just devotional music blasting on speakers, it is a confluence of the two and the attendees seem to love it. In a short clip from BBC Hindi, attendees shared their experience and said, “Mixing modern with traditional, this was an attempt to meet the young generation mid-way who are already turning towards spirituality.”
“This is not an event where bhajans are blasting on speakers. You are so immersed into it, nobody’s opinion matters. You are connecting,” shared an attendee at one of the Bhajan Clubbing events in Ahmedabad. Giving competition to sufi nights, people are looking at it as the ‘purest form of fun.’ Another attendee pointed out at the fluidity of the experience and said, “It doesn’t matter whether you come in jeans or a kurta or even slippers, just express your devotion.”
However, the Internet had a totally opposite reaction. A user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Insta band kar do inki spirituality sab bhaag jaygi [Shut social media media and their spirituality will vanish].” “This is the coolest thing to happen.. hoping other Indian cities to join the party,” read another comment, while another netizen countered, “Centuries of “divine” chants, now sung in discos! Such a sorry state.”
