The International Yoga Festival, which was officially inaugurated by the Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, on the weekend at Parmarth Niketan in Swarg Ashram has drawn more than 2,000 people from nearly 100 countries. Numerous renowned faith leaders, dignitaries and Yogacharyas from about 20 countries across the world will be sharing their experiences on the benefits of Yoga on body, mind and soul during lectures and sessions stretching from 4 am to 9.30 pm daily till March 7.
The science of Yoga, once restricted to comparatively fewer people, is now practiced by some 300 million people worldwide, making the International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan a major draw for individuals from around the world.
The Yoga classes begin from 4:00 am until 9:30 pm every day with more than 80 revered personalities, yogacharyas, presenters and experts from nearly 20 countries conducting these. 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 more than 200 different subjects throughout the week.
The head of Parmarth Niketan, Chidanand Saraswati said it was historic for people from 94 countries to congregate on the banks of the Ganga. Speaking to The Pioneer he said, “As sun and moon are for all, so yoga is for all. Yoga shows us the way from focusing on Wifi to focusing on Why IIJ Why am I on this EarthIJ Yoga is the way to a lifelong 3H programme -- Health, Happiness and Harmony. So, love yoga, live yoga and be yoga."
Speaking about the spirit of the festival, the director of International Yoga Festival and head of Divine Shakti Foundation, Sadhvi Bhagwati said violence, crime, war, poverty, environmental destruction surrounded the humanity and if Yoga given by sage Patanjali was adopted to the fullness of eight limbs, the problems of our world would dissipate and even disappear.
A special ceremony was held on Sunday in which the Yogacharyas and country ambassadors were given a ‘Tree of Yoga’- a sapling, followed by a divine water blessing ceremony. After this, the Yoga enthusiasts from across the world took part in ‘Yoga in Action’ event, raising their hands in unity and pledging to help make the planet clean, green and serene for all beings.
Yogacharyas speak :World-renowned Kundalini Yoga Teacher and founder of Golden Bridge Yoga los Angeles, Gurmukh Kaur said, “I have been coming to the International Yoga Festival here since its inception. It has been nearly twenty years of our time together. I go around the world, to numerous festivals, but this one is very special. From here I personally get a lot of energy and healing, which helps me share the same with my students.”
An American Yoga Teacher, founder of Recovery 2.0, a new system of using yoga to help people recover from addictions, and noted author, Tommy Rosen opined, “The success of this Yoga festival is on account of Chidanand Saraswati. He is an example of what ‘sadhana’ (spiritual practices) can do. We pray that the wisdom of Indian sages and the knowledge gained at the International Yoga Festival takes us from darkness to light and from fear to love.”
American Ayurvedic practitioner and co-founder of Deep Yoga, laura Plumb said, “Here we are supported by the mountains, by the river and by the saints. As the international Yoga festival grows, the need for it grows. A week from now, as you return to nearly 100 nations take what you have learned and shower the world with love.”
Other renowned Yoga experts, Yogacharyas in the festival include MM Asanganand, Prem Baba, Radhanath Swami, Bhikkhu Sanghasena, Sadhvi Abha Saraswati, HS Arun, Ana Forrest, Jose Calarco, Mohan Bhandari, Gurushabd Singh Khalsa, Rujuta Diwekar, Jules Febre, Bharath Shetty, Akira Watamoto, Hikaru Hashimoto, Roberto Milletti, Francesca Cassia, and Mert Güler, among others.