By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Rishikesh, 10 Mar: The 3rd day of the 36th annual International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan in the serene heart of Rishikesh witnessed an extraordinary convergence of 1400 yogis from 75 countries and 65 yogacharyas from 25 countries, uniting under the banner of peace and yoga. The day unfolded with an illuminating Wisdom Talk Spiritual Plenary Session, delving into the profound theme of “Living Yoga for Peace and Sustainability”. Speakers included Dr Hansa Yogendra, the Director of The Yoga Institute; Director of ISKCON’s Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV) Gauranga Das; Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan; and a Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Director of International Yoga Festival. Kia Miller, the internationally acclaimed yoga teacher, moderated the session.
“If you look outside, you will see that Gangaji used to flow much higher,” said Swami Chidanand. “If the rivers cease to exist, this world will cease to exist. We have maybe 25 years. The rivers have been pleading all along. Now we have to be vocal. We cannot create water but we can preserve it. Stop single use plastics. For our birthdays, our marriages, our anniversaries, let us do green celebrations. The number of years you are celebrating, let us plant that many trees. Life itself will thrive. Nature will thrive. If you want to have a future, preserve nature.”
“Life in all its simplicity and detail is saturated with blessings,” said Gauranga Das, “The air we breathe, the space we occupy, the food we grow for our subsistence and the opportunities that life makes possible for us are manifestations of God’s love for us. By understanding our own spiritual nature, underlying our material body, we can come to realise that we exist in this world not to simply consume, defend and die, but to seek a higher purpose.”
“The global food, water, and land shortages are really due to a global consciousness shortage,” said Sadhvi Bhagwati. “If we can raise our consciousness, and make conscious choices, if we can start from the principles of ahiṁsā, nonviolence, satya, truthfulness, asteya, non-stealing, this is enough to bring such peace and sustainability to the world. If we all remembered these practices, there would be no climate change, no human rights abuses, no poverty, women wouldn’t die in childbirth.”
“Most of us think, I don’t walk around beating people up. I’m not violent. But how many of us have a voice in our heads that says, ‘you are useless, everyone must be judging you, who do you think you are.’ That voice violates ahimsa – it’s violent. It’s also false, so it violates satya. If you want world peace, we must start by creating peace within. This is what it will take to address the global consciousness shortage,” she added.
At the break of dawn, participants geared up for day 3 of the International Yoga Festival with a packed schedule of meditation, yoga and divine music. In the morning classes Ira Trivedi, celebrated author and Yoga Acharya, led students to Salute the Sun at dawn on the famous Parmarth Yoga Ghat; world renowned Yoga Teacher Kia Miller, led her students in connecting with Kundalini Shakti; and Gurnimit Singh, Kirtan singer, taught students how to open their throat chakra.
After a light and nutritious brunch, Dr Smita Naram, Co-Founder of Ayushakti, showed students powerful methods for detoxing the body in order to renew the mind, body, and spirit. Vaidya Dr Ramkumar, a lifelong student of Ayurveda and other traditional Indian knowledge systems, conducted a masterclass on how the Spiritual Foundations of Ayurveda. On the mat, Tommy Rosen, Founder of Recovery 2.0, led an asana on Nervous System Attunement, and internationally celebrated yoga teacher Seane Corn led an asana class with the theme of Mystics on the Mat: Magick, Alchemy, and Ritual as a Pathway Towards Liberation.
Before sunset, Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagawati led a traditional sacred Ganga Aarti and kirtan celebration.
International sensation Kailash Kher treated participants to his unique blend of Indian folk and Sufi Music, marking the end of Day 3.
