The second annual, three day Jageshwar International Yoga Festival, jointly organized by the Government of Uttarakhand, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) and Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh), took place from the 5-7th October. Parmarth Niketan Ashram is well known for hosting the world famous annual International Yoga Festival at Rishikesh, from March 1-7 each year, attracting more than a thousand Yogis from across India and across the world, which will now be in its 29th year.
Jointly organized with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Government of Uttarakhand, and GMVN it was decided that the inspiration and transformation of the International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh) should expand and be extended to the Kumaon region during the beautiful Autumn season. HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President Of Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh) blessed and inspired this beautiful Jageshwar Yoga Festival with the vision and the support of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Harish Rawat, who graced the concluding ceremony of the second annual Jageshwar Yoga Festival with his presence and enthusiastic, inspiring words.
Also present at the three day International Yoga Festival- Jageshwar were: • Speaker of UKD, Vidhan Sabha, Shri Govind Singh Kunjwal • Commissioner of Kumaon, Mr D Senthil Pandian • Deputy Director Uttarakhand Tourism, Shri Vivek Chauhan • District Magistrate Almora, Shri Savin Bansal • Shri Ajay Retula, DIG Almora • Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Director of the International Yoga Festival- Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh), President of Divine Shakti Foundation • Sadhvi Abha Saraswarti, Director of Parmarth Yoga Department • General Manager of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, Mr TS Martholia • Smt Renuka Rawat, wife of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand • and many others
The event included three days of Yoga classes, including Kundalini, Ashtanga, Sukshma and Hatha practices, meditation, Naad yoga, vedic chanting, yog nidra, yoga philiosophy, cultural performances, yogic demonstrations, satsang and discourses.
There was also a beautiful Ganga Aarti on the banks of the Jataa Ganga and a collective pledge to preserve and protect our sacred natural heritage.
As an integral part of the Festival, the participants visited and meditated at the Jageshwar Dham Temple, one of the most ancient and sacred 12 Jyotirlings.
Pujya Swamiji led everyone in a pledge to protect and preserve our environment. He spoke a great deal about keeping our rivers and forests free from pollution by establishing Green Crematoriums and Green Corridors. In this spirit, it the concluding ceremony, there was a tree plantation of sacred Rudraksha saplings from Rishikesh, a water blessing ceremony and a symbolic inauguration of the Eco-Crematorium project.