Holi 2022: Holi Ke Rang Yoga Ke Sang

Global Family comes together at Parmarth Niketan to Celebrate the Festival of Colours with the colours of oneness, love, togetherness and YOGA!

Yoga lovers, seekers, devotees and pilgrims from across India and around the world join in the Yoga Capital of the World – Rishikesh – at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram for the 96th Day of the 100 Day countdown to Yoga Day, in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and Morariji Desai Institute of Yoga

Yoga lovers, seekers, devotees and pilgrims from across India and around the world, including from Brazil, France, Israel, New Zealand, Netherlands, Nepal, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Mexico, and many others, joined for a special event on Holi and Holika Dahan as part of the 100 day countdown to International Yoga Day event, organised by Parmarth Niketan, in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India and Morariji Desai National Institute of Yoga.

HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji inaugurated and delivered the Keynote Address in Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi on the 13th March, 2022 during a special Yoga Mahotsav 2022, officially launching the 100-day countdown to International Yoga Day alongside the Hon’ble Union AYUSH Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal ji, Hon’ble Union Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Shri Bhupendra Yadav ji, Hon’ble Union MoS External Affairs Mrs Meenakshi Lekhi ji, Hon’ble Union MoS AYUSH, Women & Child Development Shri Mahendra Munjpara ji, Hon’ble CM Haryana Shri Monhar Lal Khattar ji, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim Shri Prem Singh Tamang ji, yoga experts and enthusiasts. This special campaign will bring together 100 cities, 100 organizations to host 100 events in the lead up to the International Day of Yoga on 21st June, 2022. Parmarth Niketan is hosting its special event on the auspicious occasion of Holika Dahan and Holi.

The special Yogic Holi Celebrations started with a Common Yoga Protocol session in the morning at the feet of Shankar Bhagawan, on the holy banks of Mother Ganga, with the blessings of Parmarth Niketan’s President, HH Param Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and President of Divine Shakti Foundation Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji. Immediately followed by a special eco-friendly Yagya & Prayer ceremony with cow dung patties instead of wood as is the daily practice of the Ashram.The concept and vision behind these celebrations is that Yoga is not just Asana, Yoga is a way of life. Therefore Yoga must be integrated with every aspect of our lives, including in the way we celebrate our festivals, being mindful of the impact of our actions on the planet.

In the evening there was another special Yoga Session conducted in the august presence of Pujya Swamiji, Sadhvi Bhagawatiji, the Hon’ble Ambassador of Trinidad Tobago Dr Roger Gopaul with his family alongside our International Yoga Festival family Yogacharyas Anand Mehrotra, The Yoga Couple Mat and Ash, Yogacharya Paula Tapia, Yogacharya Dr Indu Sharma, Karma Yogini Ganga Nandini, Yogacharya Mary Cecil which was livestreamed across the Ashram and Ministry’s platforms. Following the session, the yoga practitioners and participants joined in a special Eco-Friendly, Waterless Holi celebration with organic colours and flowers. The celebrations flowed into the world-famous Ganga Aarti wherein messages about the campaign and about the significance of the festival of colours was shared with all devotees and pilgrims. Thereafter, there was a special Satsang Session inside the Ashram premises, followed by a special green campfire, made again from cow dung patties and old wood, as part of a special an Eco-Friendly Holika Dahan puja.

Joining these celebrations was the Hon’ble Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to India Dr Roger Gopaul with his family who had come especially to celebrate their children’s very first Holi on the banks of Mother Ganga.