Shayra Apoorva
Songwriter
Shayra leads the songwriting session — an afternoon of finding words, and a song, that are yours.
RESET | COHORT 1.0 | BANARAS
8 to 12 participants only.
What if you could simply lie down, be yourself, and belong?
Eat homely meals. Sit in the winter sun. Spend an afternoon in a session with a songwriter and a screenwriter. And let the magic of Banaras do its thing on you.
Four days of no rush, no expectations. Just your thoughts, a tribe to belong to, and some words and conversations exchanged in a city that has a way of making you feel things you didn't know you needed to feel.
Can you feel the city calling out to you?
You'll write a song with Shayra Apoorva and explore scene-writing with Pawan Kumar Mishra.
And you'll go home with something you created, with your name on it.
December 11–14, 2026 · Varanasi
No writing experience needed. Just curiosity, and a willingness to give yourself four days away from the usual noise.
Banaras: Woh shahar jahan aap aate nahi ho, bulaye jaate ho.
Mark Twain said, "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."
Yet surprisingly, every day begins with a distinct newness of Subah-e-Banaras.
Banaras has a way of making you want to simply be.
Mornings begin with dahi-jalebi and kachori at Chaachi's shop, a kulhad of chai, and the promise of a day that doesn't need to be hurried.
There's homely food with the authentic taste of Varanasi. There's the winter sun, the winding galiyaan, temple bells, silk shops, paan stalls, and conversations you didn't plan to have.
And then, the ghats. The Ganga. A city that has seen centuries pass, yet somehow makes room for you to sit with your own thoughts.
Maybe you'll write something. Maybe you'll rediscover a part of yourself. Maybe you'll simply return home feeling a little lighter.
You don't have to arrive with a plan. Just come as you are.
RESET: A Pause to just be, feel and (maybe) write !
Four days, a small group, and a welcoming, alcohol-free space to make something of your own. Here is what the days hold.
Homely vegetarian meals
Familiar flavours, shared meals, and time to linger at the table.
Tea and coffee, whenever you need them
A cup between conversations, or a quiet moment to yourself.
Private accommodation
A room that is entirely your own — space to unwind, settle in, and feel at home between the days’ wanderings.
Local city travel
Getting around Banaras is part of your stay, leaving you free to take the city in.
A boat trip with the evening aarti
An evening on the Ganga, with time to sit with the river and the aarti.
A powerful temple visit, with a lore to explore
An invitation to pause, listen, and explore the stories held by a sacred place.
A food tour through the city
Meet Banaras through its flavours, with room for discovery along the way.
Two Creative sessions, each candidly guided by your mentors
Songwriting with Shayra Apoorva; screenwriting and scene-writing with Pawan Kumar Mishra. Bring your curiosity, just as you are.
Your hosts
Pawan Kumar Mishra
Screenwriter & creative producer
Pawan leads the screenwriting and scene-writing session — learning to see a moment, and put it on the page.
Practical details
- Dates
- December 11–14, 2026, Varanasi
- Group
- 8–12 participants only
- Fee
- ₹44,999 per participant. Includes a private room, meals, local city travel and the listed retreat experiences and sessions.
- Not included
- Travel to and from Varanasi.
- Selection
- Every application is read personally. If you're shortlisted, your invitation will arrive by email and WhatsApp by November 18, 2026.
- Coming with a friend?
- A 10% companion discount may be available, subject to both applicants being selected.
This is an application, not a confirmed booking. No payment is taken on this site.
The application
Four short chapters.
Take your time. Your answers stay put as you move between chapters.