From Goa‘s Beaches to Himalayan havens: The Unexpected Convergence of Psytrance, Zionism, and Hindutva
Dharamsala, India – A jarring juxtaposition is unfolding in the Indian Himalayas, and increasingly across the nation: the booming basslines of psychedelic trance, a genre born from Goa’s 1960s hippie trail, are becoming increasingly intertwined with both Israeli backpackers and the rising tide of Hindutva nationalism. What began as a counter-cultural movement preaching “Peace, love, Unity and Respect” is now echoing alongside saffron flags and, according to observers, attracting a demographic increasingly aligned with right-wing ideologies.
The phenomenon, initially observed by residents in areas like Himachal Pradesh and goa, reveals a complex interplay of spiritual seeking, geopolitical shifts, and cultural appropriation. A recent account detailed how the Kanwar Yatra, a Hindu pilgrimage, featured psytrance music, a genre historically associated with anti-establishment hedonism. This convergence raises questions about the evolution of the music scene and its unexpected alignment with nationalist movements.
Psychedelic trance emerged in Goa, a former Portuguese colony, attracting Westerners drawn to Indian spirituality and cannabis readily available untill the 1970s. The music, initially a form of resistance to modern capitalist societies, embraced themes of religion, karma, sci-fi, and drug culture, promoting the ethos of PLUR. However, as Arun Saldanha details in Psychedelic White: Goa Trance and the viscosity of Race, the culture remained largely inaccessible to Indians, described as a space where “whiteness as viscous…is frequently transgressed and sufficiently porous for all white newcomers to join, while solid enough to make it incredibly hard for Indians to penetrate.”
The influx of Israeli tourists, particularly post-military service, has been a important factor in the genre’s continued presence in india. Goa became a popular destination for Israelis seeking post-army respite, and the psytrance scene provided a cultural anchor. This connection has deepened in recent years, coinciding with growing diplomatic ties between India and Israel under the current Indian government, led by Prime minister Narendra Modi.
Observers note a shift in the demographic attending psytrance parties and festivals. While historically attracting a diverse, international crowd, there’s a growing presence of young Indian men identifying with Hindutva ideology.This demographic frequently enough displays overt displays of Hindu symbolism and, according to reports, expresses nationalist sentiments.
The reasons for this shift are multifaceted. Some analysts suggest that the music’s emphasis on altered states of consciousness resonates with certain Hindu spiritual practices. Others point to a purposeful effort by elements within the Hindutva movement to co-opt and re-brand counter-cultural spaces, imbuing them with nationalist messaging. The use of psytrance during the Kanwar Yatra exemplifies this trend.The convergence raises concerns about the dilution of the genre’s original ethos and the potential for cultural appropriation. Critics argue that the appropriation of psytrance by Hindutva elements risks erasing its history of anti-establishment sentiment and its inclusive principles. The future of psytrance in India remains uncertain, caught between its counter-cultural roots and the rising tide of nationalism.
