Special Visit to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram, popularly known as the Beatles Ashram, on the second to last day of the International Yoga Festival (IYF) at Parmarth Niketan, celebrating peace and unity
Participants from nearly 90 countries joined HH Param Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji to celebrate with special meditation, beautiful songs and chanting
The sixth day of IYF was another beautiful day filled with Yoga Sessions including Hatha Yoga – Special meditation, Chakra Alignment, Nada Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Face Yoga for Anti-Ageing,
Karma Yoga: From Swarth to Parmarth, Vinyasa and Kundalini Yoga, Healing of Long-Covid Symptoms and many more
The day concluded with a beautiful Bharat Darshan, celebrating the traditional dance of Mother India, Brij ke holi performance, Chakri and Ghoomar Dance, Gudum Baja, Charkula organized by North Central Zone Culture Centre, Pryagraj, Ministry of Culture, Government of India followed by the acred evening yagya evening Ganga Aarti, bringing people together in love and oneness
RISHIKESH: A very Special Meditation and visit took place with International Yoga Festival participants and presenters from across the globe today to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram, popularly known as the Beatles Ashram. The participants immersed in the historic Ashram’s sacred energy where the great Saint Maharishi Mahesh Yogi once lived, practiced and taught Transcendental Meditation and was also home for sometime to the world famous Beatles. This visit was the highlight to the sixth day of the world famous International Yoga Festival (IYF) under the divine guidance and blessing of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, the President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Director of IYF, with the support of Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, in association with Ministry of Culture and Ministry of AYUSH the Festival.
During the visit the participants were blessed by Pujya Swami ji’s divine chanting and singing and Pujya Sadhviji’s beautiful guided meditation, and a pledge for environmental preservation and climate action. Following which two Rudrakash trees were planted by Pujya Swamiji and Sadhviji along with the global IYF Family where Gil Ron Shama and his group from Israel and Yemen sang songs and played instruments to celebrate the divine gathering.
The day Began at 6 AM with a Hatha Yoga – Chakra Alignment class by Parmarth’s very own Dr. Indu Sharma, a senior Parmarth Yogacharya. Erica Kaufman from the USA, founder of Lila Yoga, a philosophy in motion—a meditation in motion taught Lila Yoga Sun Salutations with 5 Morning Mantras. This was followed by a class on Dynamic Heart Centered Meditation at the Yoga Tent taught by Saul David Raye of California who is a renowned evolutionary teacher, healer, and spiritual activist. This method of teaching is an act of meditation with an emphasis on opening and healing the heart. Dr. Andréa Paige, world’s leading experts on long-term fasting for cleansing and health and Nada Yoga, took a session titled “To Be Human: White Tantra & Nada Yoga”. White Tantra” means to expand one’s energy as positive vibrations. Gumi & Arindam concluded the first part of the day’s activities with the Sunrise Nāda Yoga on the beautiful Aarti Ghat as the sun shone on the participants.
After a satvik breakfast, participants geared up for much-awaited sessions on Chakras, Bhakti and Yoga conducted by world-class Yoga instructors and gurus. Mohan Bhandari of Yogic Yoga, China, explained how Yoga is helpful for Immunity Enhancement. Katie B. Happyy a yoga master and tried to assist participants find their true calling in her workshop titled “I am Infinitely Possible: A Journal Workshop on Finding Your Purpose”. Anand Mehrotra, founder of Sattva Yoga Academy and an evolutionary thought leader, conducted a session called “Aligning to Shiva – Unified field of Silence”. During this talk, Anand talked about how Shiva is Supreme Consciousness and how Vedic recitations are the eternal sounds of the Unified Field of all the Laws of Nature. Kirtaniyas, an energetic and talented band of 5 members took a session on Bhakti, Yoga and Tantra 101. Kia Miller, founder of Radiant Body Yoga, explained about the Chakras as a source of power and energy in her session titled “Harmonize Your Chakras’. At the Sacred Sound Stage, Sattyananda’s, Divine dance of Shakti Meditation mesmerized the participants and immersed them in the beautiful vibration and energy.
Following lunch, a session by Dr. Raghavan Ramankutty & Mrs. Sarada Raghavan of DATHATHREYA AYURVEDA, Kerala conducted a very informative session on “Healing Long-COVID Symptoms: Ayurvedic Clinical Potentiality”. Sadhvi Abha Saraswatiji of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, an avid teacher of yoga and vedic chanting explained the importance of Yoga Nidra and how It allows one to scan the body and tap into a state of relaxed consciousness as the mind settles in a place between wakefulness and sleep. Mansi Gulati, an international yogi and face yoga expert, shed light on “Face Yoga for Anti-Ageing”. It involves massage and exercises that stimulate the muscles, skin, and lymphatic system. In addition, it helps to relax your face muscles to help alleviate tension, stress, and worry. Kal Prakashini ji of the Akhanda Yoga Institute in Rishikesh, conducted a session on “Yoga Nidra for Ancestral Healing and Self Forgiveness” where participants were asked to to access “that space within”: to self-heal and forgive. María Alejandra Avcharian of Uruguay who is an Ayurvedic Medicine Therapist and Plastic Artist, talked about “Doshas: Vata , Pitta and Kapha” which form the basis of Naturopathy and Yoga. At the Sacred Sound Stage, a session titled “Therapeutic Sound Bath” provided the participants with a unique opportunity to learn about sonic vibrational medicine from Joseph Schmidlin of New York, who is a world-renowned classical osteopath physician, sound practitioner.
Swami Svatmananda’s session on “Taking Yoga beyond Asanas!” was followed by Ira Trivedi’s much-awaited “Dream Awake: Yin Yoga + sound healing with Vision Quest”. Introduced the participants to the slow-paced style of yoga as exercise, incorporating principles of traditional Chinese medicine, with asanas (postures) that are held for longer periods of time than in other styles. Stewart Gilchrist of the East London School of Yoga, conducted a session titled “Yoga Vrksa – The Branches of Asana ” where participants learnt about the different branches/types of yogas. Hatha yoga is one of six branches; the others include raja, karma, bhakti, jnana, and tantra yoga. Each branch with its unique characteristics and function represents a particular approach to life. Ganga Nandhini of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram and Director of Projects & Communication for the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, conducted the session titled “Karma Yoga: From Swarth to Parmarth”explaining about the importance of good deeds to uplift and help others in need. At the Yoga Ghat, Tommy Rosen of USA, an internationally renowned yoga teacher, started an enriching conversation on “The Sacred Space of Santosha – A Life Beyond Craving (Vinyasa and Kundalini Yoga)” talked about the importance of self-satisfaction and acknowledging the blessings one has. At the Sacred Sound Stage, Dipika Delmenico, an Ayurvedic Medicine Practitioner and Yoga of Sound teacher, conducted the workshop called “Regulate your Nervous System w/ Sound & Mantra ”. She demonstrated how Mantra meditation and practice helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Mantra chanting is known to have a calming effect on the mind and is known to benefit the heart as well as nervous system.
After a small break for tea and snacks, participants headed to the Aarti Ghat for the “Bharat Darshan” organized in partnership with the North Central Zone Culture Centre, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, where they performed Brij ki holi to celebrate the eternal and divine love of god Radha and Krishna, Charkula a dance performed in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh. Chakri, one of the most popular folk dances of the Kanjar tribe of Kota and Baran districts of Rajasthan. Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of Rajasthan.
Sri Mayaram Dhuve from Madhya Pradesh played a special musical instrument Gudumb Baja. Sri Manoj Jale from the state of Haryana also presented a special performance based on the vibrant folk culture of Haryana, which was followed by the sacred Yagna and divine Ganga Aarti marking the end of the second last day of IYF with everyone’s hearts full of love, gratitude, and devotion.
The Hon’ble Brajesh Pathak Deputy Chief Minister & Cabinet Minister of Legislative, Justice, Rural Engineering service in the Uttar Pradesh Government joined for the Sacred Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh to celebrate the 6th day of International Yoga Festival (IYF) with Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Director of IYF and was honored with Natraj Award and the sacred Rudraksha Sapling.
