IshtarFest

IshtarFest is a community festival organized by Hands of Change, a Central New Jersey spiritual group, honoring the Sumerian goddess Inanna/Ishtar, Queen of Heaven and Earth. The program is built around workshops, lectures and rituals exploring Mesopotamian myth, ethics and history, with talks on Inanna's descent and return, sacred trees of the ancient Near East, Sumerian music and scholarly keynotes. Social and performance elements include the Ishtarbucks Caffdcoffee chat, a Sumerian music concert, a devotional ritual and the Gathering of the Ancient Bards, a virtual open mic for pagan-themed poetry and song. Sessions have been held online, with recordings sold afterward.