For many, Janmashtami is a day of devotion, music, dance, and colourful rituals marking the birth of Lord Krishna. But for Dr Priya Virmani, TEDx speaker, author, wellness consultant, philanthropist, and educator; it is also an opportunity to breathe fresh life into age-old stories, making them powerful, practical guides for the challenges of our time.
This year, in collaboration with Namaste Village, Dr Virmani is touring across England with a performance series that blends ancient Hindu wisdom with modern psychology. The aim? To make the meaning of our most loved festivals relevant to contemporary life and to present Krishna not as a distant deity, but as a relatable, multidimensional mentor.
Ancient wisdom as a navigation system
“The Hindu God who preserves, Lord Vishnu, has many Avataars,” Dr Virmani explains. “Krishna by far is the most relatable, multidimensional and pragmatic Avataar.” For her, the Sanskrit word ‘Avataar’ is not the Hollywood sci-fi interpretation, but the cosmic principle of the infinite taking a human form.
Her idea for the performance grew out of earlier stage shows in which she explored how timeless wisdom can be applied to everyday dilemmas. “Ancient wisdom is a most powerful navigation tool for everyday life, a GPRS like no other!” she says. In her view, the life of Krishna and the epic of the Mahabharata address every conceivable human challenge: from childhood trauma and identity struggles to lifestyle choices and the science of breathing.
She begins with Krishna’s birth, a tale of divine intervention in the dead of night, freeing his parents from imprisonment under the tyrannical Kansa. “At the story level, it feels supernatural,” she says. “But at the meaning level, it’s our superpower: the moment consciousness awakens. When light floods the darkness of ego and negativity, the shackles of fear fall away.”
Another striking example is Krishna’s defeat of the venomous serpent Kalia, whose poison was destroying the Yamuna. Rather than annihilating Kalia, Krishna negotiates a peaceful resolution. For Dr Virmani, this is a masterclass in handling dangerous or hostile stakeholders with integrity, ensuring everyone wins without sacrificing one’s principles.
Then there is the charming yet profound moment when Yashoda scolds the young Krishna for eating mud, only to glimpse the entire cosmos inside his mouth. “It’s a reminder of the infinite cosmic energy that dwells within each of us,” she says. “When we tap into that energy, especially in complex or manipulative situations, it gives us clarity. And clarity is spirituality in action.”
These narratives, she stresses, are more than moral tales, they are tools to shift us from the exhausting grind of the rat race to the sustaining rhythm of grace.
Reimagining festivals for younger generations
While the performances draw in audiences of all ages, Dr Virmani sees a particular value for younger generations. “When we truly understand the science and meaning behind our festivals, their significance grows exponentially,” she says. She works extensively with children, adolescents, and adults in London, where the pace and pressures of urban life can feel overwhelming.
She points out that the rise in ADHD and autism diagnoses underscores the need for holistic frameworks of understanding and self-regulation. “Our festivals can be more than occasions for joy. They can be living lessons in who we are, how we relate to the world, and how to find balance.”
Even the timing of a festival holds meaning. Krishna Janmashtami falls on the eighth day after the Raksha Bandhan full moon, as the moon wanes. “This timing symbolises the arrival of a new era of consciousness, light emerging as the old cycle fades,” she explains. Such seasonal and cosmic connections, she believes, can deepen cultural pride and personal grounding.
From stage to inner stage
What makes Dr Virmani’s approach stand out is her ability to connect the outer celebration of a festival with the inner work of personal growth. The flute-playing Krishna of tradition becomes, in her telling, a metaphor for attunement, being hollow enough for divine music to flow through. The battlefield strategist of the Mahabharata becomes a life coach for clarity, courage, and integrity in our own moral dilemmas.
Through storytelling, theatre, and dialogue, her performances invite audiences not only to hear about Krishna but to “download” his wisdom into their own daily decision-making.
For Dr Virmani, Krishna is not a figure frozen in myth, but a dynamic presence whose relevance grows as modern life becomes more complex. “I have never found a situation or problem unaddressed by the life of Krishna,” she reflects. “His stories, when understood deeply, are a living toolkit for navigating life with clarity and grace.”
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