What We Stand For
Freedom with Responsibility
We believe freedom is sacred — and it comes with deep ownership of one’s own path, choices, and healing.
Connection through Humanness
Pain and joy are both great teachers. We hold space for all of it — knowing that our journeys are never solitary.
Honest Authenticity
There is immense relief in shedding the masks we wear. Our work is rooted in the courage to be real — imperfect, evolving, and true.
We don’t claim to have it all figured out. But we are devoted to walking this path — and to offering a space where others can walk with us for a while, at their own rhythm, toward deeper clarity, purpose, and inner peace.
This is The Pilgrimage.
About Us
Sanjay Bhandari
Co Founder
Workshop Instructor and Kirtan Facilitator
As co-founder of The Pilgrimage, Sanjay brings his expertise in leadership, mindset, and personal growth to create immersive experiences that guide others toward deep spiritual connection and self-realisation. His mission is to help people break free from the cycles of modern life, reconnect with their authentic selves, and awaken the leader within — both in the world and the soul. Drawing from years of dedicated practice, Sanjay blends ancient wisdom with modern psychology to support meaningful inner transformation. He is passionate about building communities that empower individuals to live with clarity, purpose, and presence.
Sarah Bhandari
Co Founder
Workshop Instructor
Sarah Bhandari is a warm and grounded facilitator with over a decade of experience—from guiding corporate leaders to supporting vulnerable youth. She helps others grow in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and self-leadership with care and clarity. With over three years immersed in deep meditation and spiritual practice, she brings calm presence and wisdom to every space she holds. As founder of one of Germany’s largest Kirtan and Bhakti festivals, she creates spaces for meaningful connection—with self, others, and what truly matters.
Yana Patel
Instructor
Workshop and Kirtan Facilitator
Yana has grown up in the Bhakti yoga tradition, fostering a deep foundation in spiritual principles and holistic living. She is a dedicated dance instructor, meditation facilitator, and kirtan leader, guiding others on the path of embodied devotion and inner stillness. Through her blend of movement, mantra, and mindfulness, she creates spaces for deep connection to the self and the divine.
Prahlad Das
Socials
Workshop and Kirtan Facilitator
Prahlad is a passionate kirtan facilitator and creative storyteller, bringing ancient wisdom to life through music and social media. As the voice behind The Pilgrimage’s digital presence, he crafts content that inspires reflection, devotion, and self-discovery. His mission is to help others reconnect with the sacred through sound, community, and spiritual practice.
Hannah Merriman
Instructor
Wellbeing & Yoga
Hannah brings over 10 years of experience in teaching, training, and coaching, with a warm and engaging style that makes learning memorable. She is a seasoned yoga instructor with over 10 years of experience, known for her calm, attentive teaching style and deep understanding of breathwork, alignment, and mindful movement. She will be guiding the yoga sessions, creating a supportive space for all levels to connect, stretch, and rejuvenate.
Our Philosophy
The Pilgrimage was born from a shared longing — to slow down, reconnect with what truly matters, and walk the sacred path within and without.
Sanjay, founder and CEO of a successful international training company, brings over two decades of experience in (self)leadership, personal development, and spiritual life, rooted deeply in the Bhakti Yoga tradition. Sarah, a coach, leadership trainer, and lifelong seeker, has journeyed through many spiritual paths, both Eastern and Western, always guided by a deep curiosity and the desire to live and lead authentically.
Sitting together, we realized that what had shaped us most were not just books or teachings — but the experiences that opened our hearts in the presence of something greater: the voice of silence within ancient temples, the songs of pilgrims, the insights that arise when we travel not just to a place, but toward the soul.
The Pilgrimage is the fruit of this shared vision: to create a space where spiritual practice, personal reflection, and meaningful travel come together. It is not a commercial project, but a labor of love – born from values we hold dear: simplicity, authenticity, and service.
We believe in the spiritual nature of every being. Over the years, we’ve both undergone deep personal transformations that changed the way we move through the world — from conditioned striving to conscious being, from noise to inner stillness. Together, we hold space from a place of humility – knowing that the real teacher is often life itself.
We are not aligned with any dogma or fundamentalism. We walk with open eyes and open hearts, drawing inspiration from diverse traditions and from the shared humanness that connects us all.
