IYF is organised by Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh with the support of Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, in association with Ministry of Culture and Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and will be officially inaugurated on 9th March by the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh Ji and will have the visit of other Hon’ble Ministers, Diplomats and Dignitaries throughout the
week.
HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji, President of Parmarth Niketan and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji, Director International Yoga Festival, welcome home Yoga Presenters and Participants from across the globe. This year’s festival is primed to offer a transformative and enlightening experience for all attendees, even more enriching and uplifting than in previous years.
Highlights of this year’s highly anticipated Festival are esteemed Divine Spiritual Wisdom Plenary Sessions with Pujya Maa Hansa Jayadeva, Gauranga Das Prabhu (March 10th), Luke Coutinho (March 9th), Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi (March 14th) Dr. Chinmay Pandya and Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa (March 12th); classes with famed international yoga master teachers such as Seane Corn, Kia Miller, Anand Mehrotra, and Tommy Rosen and many more; captivating musical performances by Kailash Kher (March 10th); MC YOGI (March 9th), Daphne Tse (12th), Gurnimit Singh, and Visvambhar Sheth (March 13th); and special celebrations with Ecstatic Rhythm and Soul percussionist Drums Sivamani with his wife Runa Rizvi (March 14th); and a special Mahashivratri celebration on opening day of March 8th.
Special sacred Ganga Aarti welcomes participants on Eve of IYF today, to come together as one world, one spirit, one family, one consciousness as our world falls tragically more and more into the throes of divisiveness, polarization, and violence.
RISHIKESH: On the eve of the International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, teachers, presenters and participants from across the world have started pouring in for what is to be one of the most highly anticipated Yoga Festivals this year. A sacred Swaha fire ceremony and beautiful Ganga Aarti led by HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji, President of Parmarth Niketan, and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji, Director of International Yoga Festival, led all of the participants in meditation on “one world, one spirit, one family, one consciousness,” as our world falls tragically more and more into the throes of divisiveness, polarization, and violence, with prayers that, through yoga, we may remember our connection and serve all without discrimination.
Tomorrow, more than 1200 participants from 75 countries around the world will start the day with a special Spiritual Lecture on the “Sacred Energy of Shiva” with HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Jii and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswat Jii, enjoy Kriya and Kundalini asana classes, join a thought-provoking conversion on “How Ayurveda and Yoga can Heal Addiction” between American yoga teacher and addiction recovery expert Tommy Rosen, founder of Recovery 2.0, and renowned Ayurveda expert Dr. Vaidya Ramkumar. Participants will end the evening with a special sacred Maha Shivratri Celebration with a Ganga aarti on the holy banks of Ma Ganga.
On March 9th, participants will be officially welcomed in the Inauguration of the annual International Yoga Festival with the august presence of the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand, Shri Gurmit Singhji. They will also enjoy a Divine Spiritual Wisdom Plenary Session on “Total Wellness,” with esteemed guests Luke Coutinho, the Wellness Champion at the forefront of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Fit India Movement, Anand Mehrotra, founder of Sattva Yoga and the Sattva Yoga Academy, and Dr. N. Ganesh Rao, founder of ACT Yoga.
This year’s Sacred Sound Stage will feature a gifted lineup of kirtan, mantra, and sound artists including huge international names like Sivamani, MC YOGI, Kailash Kher, Daphne Tse, among many others.
This world renowned annual event at Parmarth Niketan, with the support of Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, in association with the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India has grown to international acclaim and draws yoga teachers and seekers from every corner of the globe.
The festival is covered in publications such as Time Magazine, the NY Times, CNN and many other prestigious publications. The event draws India’s most revered names in spiritual leadership and has been inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji via live video conferencing in 2017 and inaugurated in-person by the Hon’ble former Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naiduji in 2018. This year the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Hon’ble Union Ministers of Tourism, Culture and AYUSH as well as Hon’ble Ambassadors, Diplomats and other eminent dignitaries are expected to join the Festival during the course of the week.
The Festival is blessed and inspired by HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Director of the International Yoga Festival. During the Festival, participants have the opportunity to join over 150 classes, workshops, lectures, discourses and interactive sessions on topics including a wide variety of Yoga Asanas (from Kundalini to Hatha, and so many more), Yog Nidra, Pranayama, Sound Healing, Ayurveda, Meditation, as well as Ancient Indian Philosophy and Vedanta, Classical Indian Dance and Musical instruction. All of this, in addition to the music and dance performances each evening offering the flavor of the culture and heritage of India.
Special Highlights from this year’s festival include:
- Special Sacred Maha Shivratri Celebration (March 8th)
- the esteemed Divine Spiritual Wisdom Plenary Sessions with speakers such as Pujya Maa Hansa Jayadeva, Gauranga Das Prabhu, Luke Coutinho, and many others
- Attendees can anticipate captivating musical performances by the likes of the mesmerizing Sivamani and Runa Rizvi and MC Yogi among others cultural performances showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Bharat.
- A diverse array of over 150 classes covering topics from Hatha Yoga to Kundalini yoga to Meditation, Pranayama, Yog Nidra and more.
- Classes and programs in total wellness with renowned Ayurvedic and traditional medicine experts and practitioners.
- A visit to the iconic Maharishi Ashram (Beatles Ashram) are just a glimpse of the unique experiences awaiting participants.
- Sacred Mahashivratri meditation, prayers and puja on the banks of Mother Ganga.
- Special announcement of Maha Kumbh Mela activities being organised by Parmarth Niketan next year, in addition to Yoga Festival in the Kumbh Mela from 20-26th Feb as well as special Kumbh Mela themed IYF in Rishikesh next year 8-14th March and other inspiring campaigns
Quotes from Participants and Presenters:
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji shares, “This year we are so glad to be coming together as a global family when much of the world is torn apart with divisiveness.Yoga is not what you do. Yoga is who you are. To perform actions without any expectation, just as an instrument of divine grace, is Yoga. To me, yoga is beyond religion, yoga is for all. With this Festival, we illustrate India’s ability to connect people from all walks of life through and with Yoga.”
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji says, “In this sacred land, where the saints, sages and rishis have come for thousands of years, the participants of International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan receive the highest excellence in teachings. But along with teachings from yoga experts from across the world, the participants also receive the divine touch and transformation of Mother Ganga and the Himalayas, and this energy of awakening in the Birthplace of Yoga. It is that confluence of teachings, touch and transformation that is so special and draws people here from every corner of the globe.”
Participant Marina Egges from Switzerland says, “I always wanted to come to India and I love yoga. I heard about a festival in the birthplace of yoga so I said yes! I have to go!”
Participant Anna May Hayes, from the United Kingdom, says, “I haven’t been to India for 40 years. I wanted to come to see what’s changed. I’m looking forward to exploring different classes and trying new things.”
As all the participants get ready for this incredible week long festival – We welcome everyone to also come join by registering at – https://internationalyogafestival.org/register/
