Goa/Shillong: A Christmas-week tantra retreat in Goa, promoted with explicit themes and references to both Kamasutra and Christmas, has been cancelled after widespread protests and formal complaints from multiple quarters, including a senior BJP leader from Meghalaya.

The retreat, priced at Rs 24,995 and organised by the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Foundation, was scheduled for December 25 to 28. Its promotional posters promised sessions such as “Tantric Energy of Intimacy”, “Blind Touch Dance” and “Cosmic Org**m”, blending sexual references with Christmas imagery.

Once the poster went viral on social media, it drew immediate criticism, with many users accusing the organisers of trying to market Goa as a sex tourism hub.

The backlash soon escalated. Civil society groups, women’s organisations and members of the Catholic community lodged complaints, calling the content vulgar and disrespectful. Activist Arun Pandey of Arz approached the Goa Crime Branch, alleging misuse of Osho’s name and deliberate provocation.

The Catholic Association of Goa also filed a complaint, arguing that the retreat hurt religious sentiments and promoted obscenity. Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao condemned the advertisement and urged the organisers to withdraw it.

Goa Police moved quickly once the issue gained momentum. Officers instructed the organisers to cancel the event and delete all promotional material from social media. Police stations across the state were told to monitor holiday-season events more closely.

The controversy also reached neighbouring Meghalaya. Alexander Laloo Hek, MLA and Chairman of the State Government Programme Implementation and Monitoring Committee (SGPI&MC), wrote to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant after the poster came to his notice online. In his letter, Hek called the imagery objectionable and said such content was unacceptable, particularly for the Christian community.

He asked the Goa government to verify the authenticity of the event and take action against the organisers if the details were found to be true.

Swami Dhyan Sumit, the facilitator of the retreat and founder of the Osho Ludhiana Meditation Society, later apologised, saying the programme was meant to be spiritual and had been misunderstood. He said the controversy erupted because the words “Kamasutra” and “Christmas” appeared too close together on the poster.

Goa has seen similar disputes in the past over events that blur the line between wellness promotion and erotic marketing. This year’s controversy follows a familiar pattern of viral posters, community outrage and eventual administrative intervention.

With the retreat now cancelled and the posters withdrawn, the focus shifts to the broader conversation around religious sensitivity, spiritual branding and the boundaries of event promotion in India’s tourism hotspots.

Promotional | North East Integration Rally