I Left With A Heart Full Of Love - International Yoga Festival

I recently attended the International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh, India and it exceeded my expectations in so many ways.

I didn’t really know what to expect, except that there would be a lot of people there, but I had no idea there would be 1000’s of attendees from over 75 different countries. I left with a heart full of love, an open mind, and ready to bring home and share all that I received from this amazing experience.

The festival is held annually during the month March in Rishikesh. Rishikesh is known as “City of the Divine” and the”Yoga Capital of the World,” and home to the beautiful ashram Parmarth Niketan, where the festival was hosted.

“Parmarth Niketan is a true spiritual haven, lying on the holy banks of Mother Ganga in the lap of the lush Himalayas.”

The president of the ashram and inspiration behind the festival is H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati. His motto in life is “In the service of God and humanity,” and is selflessly dedicated to the welfare of all. He leads, directs and inspires numerous, wide-scale service initiatives and is honored and revered among the ashram and throughout India. His purity and unconditional love emanates from his very being and through his eyes. Just being in his presence brought me to a place of peace and love within.

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, PhD, also resides at this ashram. She is a renowned spiritual leader, author and motivational speaker, who led wisdom talks and the Divine Ganga Aartis at sunset alongside Pujya Swamiji. She has been ordained into the sacred order of Sanyas by her guru Pujya Swamiji and has been living at Parmarth Niketan Ashram for the past twenty-five years. She oversees a variety of humanitarian projects, teaches meditation, lectures, writes, counsels individuals and families and serves as a unique female voice of spiritual leadership throughout India and the world.

The narrow streets leading up to the ashram are packed with little shops, cafes and restaurants, along with people, families, cows, monkeys, dogs, and scooters honking their way through the crowds. It can be quite loud and overwhelming, but from the moment you enter the gates of the ashram you feel an immediate sense of ease, peace, and comfort and you are greeted with “Welcome Home,” from the people who are at the ashram. You can feel all the love, care, and prayers that have been poured into this establishment daily and for so many years.  It almost feels like a spiritual Disneyland: full of colors, flowers, lights, and life size deities placed throughout.

The ashram has places of worship, temples, yoga halls, dining halls, beautiful gardens, and several hundred rooms for visitors to stay in. A full festival ticket included all classes, all meals, and on site accommodations. There were other ticket options without accommodations, day passes, and discounts for Indian residents.

The International Yoga Festival attracts yoga practitioners from around the world and offers a line up of teachers from around the world as well.

Some of my favorite teachers from the US that return annually to the festival are Kia Miller, Tommy Rosen, Seane Corn, and Gurmukh. Each are internationally renowned teachers with a wealth of knowledge, unique skill, and have a devotion to their practice. They are all in service and deliver their teachings around the world to help as many people as possible transform themselves and their lives.

There were many first time presenters at the festival as well. One was my dear friend Dasa Das and delivered some beautiful practices that reflected his devotion to his practice and his selfless service.

Another first time presenter and artist at the festival this year was MC Yogi, who I’ve known about and loved for years as he presents at many of the popular festivals in the US. He is a very gifted artist with many albums as well as a yoga teacher. His presence is energetic, uplifting, and fun and he has quite a charm and sense of humor. Whether performing on stage or leading a class he always elevates the vibe and delivers positive messages through his words and lyrics.

A favorite teacher of mine from India that I was so grateful to practice with again was Anand Mehrotra from The Sattva Yoga Academy. I am a Sattva Master teacher and have trained with Anand in India for many years and it was truly an honor to be in practice with him again. Anand’s classes, which are called “Journeys” are very unique and transformative, you truly go on a journey within each one. With a combination of breathwork, meditation, mantra, asana, and Himalayan Kriya, you experience strength and surrender, dynamic movement and stillness, empowerment and tenderness.  

And then there is Yogrishi Vishvketu, who also has the Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram and Retreat Center in Rishikesh. I met him at one of my favorite festivals in the US called Bhakti Fest. Yogirishi has a calm, happy, and sweet demeanor and he often asks us to breathe with a smile and breathe happier in his classes. Inevitably you leave his classes smiling and happy.  

It was an honor to meet Bijay Anand for the first time at IYF. He is the founder of Anahata.in. The class I took was focused on the Anahata (heart chakra) and was beautifully designed with breathwork, meditation, kriya, and mantra, with an amazing playlist. We closed the class in an intimate circle singing Amen and Hallelujah…my heart was blasted open.

A favorite experience of mine each morning was to attend the sunrise chanting by the Ganga with Sudhanshu Sharma.  It was a sweet, peaceful experience chanting mantras on the banks of the Ganga as the sun gently rose and the city slowly awakened.

Another highlight was the sunset Aarti by the Ganga.  A sweet and celebratory fire ceremony offering our prayers and blessings to Ma Ganga. These Aartis take place every evening, every day of the year. During our festival experience we also had the opportunity to celebrate Maha Shivaratri (an honoring and celebration of Lord Shiva) and Water day. Water day is very important to the ashram as Pujya Swamiji is very dedicated to ensuring every child around the world has access to safe, life-giving water, sanitation and hygiene.
All of these celebrations included music, dancing, prayers, and lots of joy.

The moment and memory that will stay in my heart and soul forever was our group trip to the Beatles Ashram (of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi ashram), which is now a tourist attraction that lies within the range of the beautiful Rajaji National Park of Uttarakhand. As per the reports, in February 1968 the Beatles traveled to Rishikesh for a three-month course of Transcendental Meditation to attain peace, and during this time stayed at the ashram and wrote many songs.

We all gathered in one of the large rooms at the ashram and prayed and sang mantras together, led by Pujya Swamji and Sadhviji, along with a full stage of beautifully talented artists and musicians. To close the event we were invited to hug each person in the room while singing “All You Need Is Love.” To witness and be a part of 100’s of human beings from around the world, all ages, colors, cultures, and races hugging each other in pure unconditional loving embraces touched me so deeply. It made me weep from the extraordinary beauty and the hope that one day our world will love and be as one.

India has a special magic to it that keeps calling you back. This was my 5th time and everytime I leave I’m anticipating my next return. India is crazy, loud, and chaotic with people, cows, monkeys, dogs, and scooters all interacting and moving about as one. This is the perfect representation of coexisting together, that all beings are equal and “all are one”   Hari Om Tat Sat.  

I give thanks to the International Yoga Festival for creating such a sacred and special event as an invitation to come together, pray together, sing and dance together, to be love and give love and create a more peaceful world for all.  

To learn more visit https://internationalyogafestival.org.