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February 13 - 15, 2026
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Please contact retreat@artofliving.ca / 1-819-532-3328 for any questions or queries.

Upanayanam

Upanayanam is one of the traditional samskaras, or “purification rites,” prescribed in the Vedic way of life. Among the sixteen principal samskaras, these rites mark important turning points that signify entry into new stages of life. Samskaras are said to help an individual attain the highest good in two ways: by removing accumulated impurities and by bestowing positive and beneficial qualities.

The word Upanayanam comes from Sanskrit and literally means “moving closer to higher knowledge” or “approaching the master.” The Upanayanam ceremony marks the beginning of a new phase in life—the initiation into Vedic studies. As part of this discipline, Sandhyavandanam, which consists of selected excerpts from the Vedas, is performed three times daily: in the morning, at noon, and in the evening.

Pre-requisites

  • Anyone aged 8 years and above who has completed any Art of Living program is eligible to attend the course. (For participants below 18 years of age, Parent/Guardian should be completing the registration form)
  • Participants below 18 years of age may enroll only if one or both parents are also attending the course.
  • Parents enrolling younger children are requested to use their discretion to ensure that the child can sit through and participate in the entire course.
  • Women who are in the first four days of their monthly cycle are requested not to attend the course.
  • Those who were initiated as children may enroll again as new participants.
  • All registered participants must attend an online orientation session scheduled a few days prior to the Upanayanam program. Attendance at this orientation is mandatory.

Schedule

  • February 13: Arrival Friday evening
  • February 14: Upanayanam program full day
  • February 15: Departure after the breakfast
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Please contact retreat@artofliving.ca / 1-819-532-3328 for any questions or queries.