Yogis from 92 Nations Converge at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh for International Yoga Festival
- First Day of 29th Annual, World-Famous International Yoga Festiva
RISHIKESH: The 29th annual, world-famous International Yoga Festival began today at Parmarth Niketan, welcoming this year more than 1500 participants from 92 nations. The IYF offers daily classes from 4:00 am until 9:30 pm with more than 80 revered saints, yogacharyas, presenters and experts from nearly 18 countries around the world. Ashtanga Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Bharat Yoga, Ganga Yoga, and Somatics Yoga are just a few of the nearly 200 different offerings throughout the week. There are also classes in meditation, mudras, Sanskrit chanting, reiki, Indian philosophy and spiritual discourses to be held by revered spiritual leaders from India and abroad.
Under our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s great vision and leadership, the world has been inspired towards embracing the exceptional benefits of India’s ancient science of yoga. Due to his diligent leadership, in 2015, the United Nations named June 21st as International Yoga Day, leading to a resurgence of yoga practitioners across borders, nations and seas and truly bringing the world together in the name of yoga.
Last year, H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan and Founder of the International Yoga Festival, and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Director of the International Yoga Festival, led International Yoga Day events at the United Nations in New York.
Yoga, once an art restricted only to the sages of the high Himalayas, is now practiced by some 300 million people practice yoga worldwide, making Parmarth Niketan’s International Yoga Festival a tremendous draw for individuals from around the world. Says Pujya Swamiji about the festival: “Yoga is all the way from the United Nations to the United Creations on the banks of Ganga!”
A very special event this year will be the inauguration of the International Yoga Festival with the Honourable Vice President of India Shri M Venkaiah Naidu on 3rd March at 11:00am. The Hon’ble Vice President will address the gathering of participants at the Yoga Ghat of Parmarth Niketan, on the banks of Mother Ganga.
The festival this year will also be blessed with the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who will attend the Ganga Aarti as well as lead a special meditation and inauguration of Parmarth Niketan’s Lord Buddha statue.
Yesterday evening, on the eve of the 29th annual International Yoga Festival, the participants joined together for a special Ganga Aarti ceremony.
The first day of the festival today saw a beautiful tapestry of participants representing the world’s faiths, nations, cultures, races and regions as Argentinians, Afghans, Israelites, Iranians, Japanese, Kenyans, Italians, Americans, Yemenis and people from numerous other nations formed bonds of togetherness under the common flag of yoga.
Many Classes and Activities on Day 1 of the International Yoga Festival
The first day of the International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan began at 4:00 am with Kundalini Sadhana led by Gurushabd Singh Khalsa from California, USA, followed by pre-breakfast classes including: Vinyasa Yoga with Akira Watamoto of Japan, Vinyasa Strength with Krishnamurthy Mohan Raj of China, and Kundalini Yoga with Gloria Latham of Canada.
After breakfast, the morning intense asana classes took place with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, founder of Golden Bridge Yoga in California, USA teaching Kundalini yoga, Deborah Langely of Australia teaching Lotus Flow Vinyasa, H.S. Arun of Bangalore, teaching Iyengar Yoga, as well as Mert Guler of Turkey leading a beautiful Sufi Meditation. Joanna Faso of USA taught a Sanskrit Mantra Workshop focusing on the Maha Mrtyunjaya mantra.
At 11am, the Spiritual Discourse Series commenced with a highly-motivational address by HH Pujya Sri Shankaracharya Swami Divyanand Teerthji and renowned biologist Dr. Bruce Lipton, who uplifted and inspired the audience with a talks on the influence of our thoughts on our cells and the importance of spiritual practice.
After enjoying lunch in the sunshine, highlights of the afternoon included a talk on the role of yoga to make a healthy world by Dr. Ishwar Basavaraddi, a Bhakti Yoga session with Daphne Tse of USA, a Cosmic Intelligence Plus Meditation with Maa Gyaan Suveera, Maharishi Meditation with Laura Plumb of California, and Raga Sound Healing with Tilak Vishvas.
The later afternoon classes included Kundalini Yoga classes with Tommy Rosen and Kia Miller of California, Yin Yoga with Yujia of China, Lila Yoga with Eric Kaufman of Pennslyvania, USA, Yogi Yoga with Mohan Bhandari, originally of Rishikesh and now of China, as well as a beginner’s introduction class to meditation and asana with Katie B Happy of California. On the Sacred Sound Stage, Cheryl Friedman of USA led a session on “Vocal Bliss: Finding Your Soul Voice.”
After the afternoon classes, we had a special advance Holi Celebration with Eco-Friendly colors along the banks of Ganga, filled with music and dancing. The full celebration will be tomorrow but the participants had a special “preview” of Holi today, followed the sacred Ganga Aarti, followed by the burning of the Holika Effigy.
During Ganga aarti, Sadhvi Bhagawatiji explained to all the participants about the deeper meaning of Holi and the story of the devotee Prahlad with what Holika represents. The participants who come from every religion and culture were so touched to learn the deep and universal significance of this holiday and they joined together in lighting the Holika effigy, expressing their enthusiasm to play Holi with colors more tomorrow.
After dinner, participants were thrilled to have the special occasion of a concert by world famous percussionist Sivamani – a true ecstatic experience of drums, music and rhythm, soul, and dance — alongside renowned violinist and composer Balabhaskar. Sivamani’s style is deeply profound and mysterious at one moment; tantalizing and exuberant at the next. However, augmenting the brute power, are his rhythmic style and harmony, which surrounds the discerning listener with warmth, joy and bliss.
Quotations from Presenters and Participants
Kia Miller, California, USA: “Attending the IYF in Rishikesh is a must for all serious practitioners who want an authentic India experience and introduction to the holistic approach of yoga. We practice on the banks of Ganga, listen to satsangs with living Saints and Master teachers, and commune with like-minded people.”
Katie B Happy: “The IYF is a place where I come back to home to my heart. I feel a deep sense of peace sitting at the banks of Ma Ganga. I always feel her calling me from America. It feels like OM.”
About the International Yoga Festival: The International Yoga Festival is jointly organized by AYUSH and Parmarth Niketan Ashram.
Since 1999, Parmarth Niketan has been hosting this world renowned event which has grown to international acclaim and which grows in size year after year.
Yogacharyas, teachers, students and seekers come from every corner of the globe to participate in this program. This year there are more than 70 presenters, giving nearly 150 classes, from 4:00 am until 9:30 pm.
Ashtanga Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Bharat Yoga, Deep Yoga, Shintoh Yoga and Somatics Yoga are just a few of the more than 60 different offerings throughout the week. There are also classes in meditation, mudras, Sanskrit chanting, reiki, Indian philosophy and much more. Further, spiritual discourses will be held by revered spiritual leaders from India and abroad.
There will also be cultural dance/music performances highlighting the culture of this Himalayan Garhwal region as well as music from musicians from all over the world.
For more information about the International Yoga Festival, please visit www.internationalyogafestival.
