Srinagar, Sep 19 (JKNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday clarified that no permission has been granted by the District Administration Bandipora for the proposed ‘Tantra Silence’ retreat in Gurez, which had recently drawn objections from political and religious figures.
The clarification comes after promotional material surfaced advertising a four-day meditation retreat titled “Tantra in Silence – A Journey Within” in Gurez Valley from September 24 to 27, 2026.
J&K government in a statement said that, “Gurez ‘Tantra Silence’ Retreat 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.”
According to the promotional poster, the programme was being organised under the name Rajneesh Tantra Temple and facilitated by Swami Dhyan Sumit, with activities including meditation, sound healing, “love and awareness”, conscious living and inner transformation.
The proposed retreat had drawn reactions from PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, who called for scrutiny of the programme.
In a post on X, the J&K Government said, “Gurez ‘Tantra Silence’ Retreat Unauthorised; No permission has been granted to the said event by District Administration Bandipora.”
The government further advised the public and tourists not to rely on or share promotional claims regarding the unauthorised event.
“Public/tourists are advised not to rely on or share such unauthorised promotional claims,” it said. (JKNS)

