The opening of the International Yoga Festival (IYF) was celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh

RISHIKESH: Sweet, sacred kirtan vibrated across the holy banks of Maa Ganga as famous Gauri Van and other artists performed during the inaugural Ganga Aarti ceremony, uniting approximately 1000 yoga enthusiasts from nearly 50 countries, including 65 yogacharyas from 47 countries!  H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan, and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Director of International Yoga Festival opened the first day of the highly anticipated annual International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh.Welcoming the participants from around the world, Pujya Swami Ji shared, “If you wish to experience peace on this earth, this is the path: Yoga is the union of Shiva and Shakti. Yoga is the way, love is the way, peace is the way. That is why we come to Yoga, come to the banks of Maa Ganga in the lap of the Himalayas. Your practice will first transform yourself, then your communities, countries, and the world.”

Pujya Sadhvi Ji introduced the international audience to core vedic culture and the importance of finding the divine from within, explaining that “In Vedic tradition we do not believe in original sin but original divinity. We have not been created BY the Divine but OF the Divine. The dilemma is we have ignorance, we forget who we are. We think we are this body, this skin color, this skill, this bank account, and then we suffer. The solution is to come back to the truth of who we are. Yoga is that which brings us back to the truth.

The early morning asana class began at the break of dawn with Kundalini Sadhana led by Gurushabd Singh Khalsa from California, USA, followed by pre-breakfast classes including: 5 elements of Suryanamaskar by Akshay Jain and Radhika Gupta, the Himalayan Breath Pranayama and Kriya for vitality by Dr Yogrishi Vishvketu, Rasa Yoga emphasizing Chakra of compassion by Sianna Sherman and many others.

Participants also immersed themselves in profound teachings, such as “Yogasana 1: Vinyasa Krama – The Forgotten Language of Sequencing” by Stewart Gilchrist, founder of the East London School of Yoga; “Ancient Secrets to the Healing Diet” by Dr. Krushna Naram; “The Kundalini Express” by Tommy Rosen; and “Enlivening Shakti” with Anand Mehrotra, who developed the Sattva Yoga style and founded the Sattva Yoga Academy. Participants practiced ancient Himalayan pranayama and kriyas, then danced ecstatically, while Mehrotra encouraged yogis to “Move like you’ve never moved before!” Tommy Rosen, founder of Recovery 2.0, taught participants how to use yoga to rise above whatever additions hold us back in life. “Addiction is the place where nothing connects,” Rosen said. “Yoga is the place where everything is connected. Yoga is recovery. Recovery is yoga. You can’t have one without the other.”

An inspiring and thought-provoking Wisdom Talk on What is Yoga and Why It Matters was held, featuring renowned spiritual leaders Dr. N Ganesh Rao, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Anand Mehrotra, and Ganga Nandini Ji. The session offered profound insights into the essence of yoga, its transformative power, and how it can deeply impact our lives.Following a nourishing brunch, participants gathered for a series of enriching and thought-provoking sessions. A session on “Ayurveda: The Sister Science of Yoga for Modern Wellness and How to Discover Our Dosha” by Amisha Shah then followed by Maria Alejandra Avcharian who introduced participants to the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda and its deep connection to yoga in maintaining balance and well-being.Dr. Ganesh Rao led a beautiful session titled “Yoga Beyond Asanas: Integrating Philosophy into Practice,” encouraging participants to explore deeper layers of self-awareness through mindful movements and philosophical reflection, allowing attendees to reflect on yoga’s profound impact on both mind and spirit.

On the Sacred Sound Stage, which hosts renowned musicians throughout the day, Sanj Hall and Joseph Schmidlin performed a “Gong Bath-Restorative Sound Bath.” The sound bath provided participants with a dreamy, healing journey through restorative sound, offering an immersive experience of inner peace and self-discovery.Following a brief tea break, participants gathered at 5:30 pm on the banks of the sacred Ganga at Parmarth Niketan Ghat for the grand opening ceremony of the International Yoga Festival, including powerful chanting and the world-famous Ganga Aarti, led by H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji, Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji, and esteemed yogacharyas from across the globe.The evening culminated in an incredibly ecstatic kirtan session, featuring Gurnimit Singh, a 3rd-generation lineage holder Kirtan singer from Vancouver, Canada, and Sattyanand, an accomplished musician and Nada Yoga practitioner from India. The vibrant kirtan had participants dancing joyfully late into the night on the serene banks of Maa Ganga.The 2025 International Yoga Festival continues to offer a rich tapestry of spiritual, physical, and cultural experiences, inviting participants from around the world to explore the profound depths of yoga, wellness, and community.For more information about the International Yoga Festival and upcoming events, visit Parmarth Niketan’s website.

H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan said,“It is a great joy to welcome so many revered saints and respected yogacharyas to the International Yoga Festival. This week, all of the participants will receive not only the gift of their wonderful teachings, but also the gift of their divine touch, through which all will be transformed.” Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Director of International Yoga Festival said, “The renowned presenters at IYF bring not only the best of strength and flexibility through asana, but they also bring the depth and breadth of yogic philosophy and spiritual wisdom for true alignment of body, mind, heart, spirit and connection of the self to the Divine.”

Tommy Rosen, internationally renowned yoga teacher, meditation instructor and addiction recovery expert with over 30 years of continuous recovery from addiction, who has been coming to the Festival since as early as 2012 shared, “I’ve been thinking a lot about sanctuary, a safe haven, a place where you can dock your soul, body, and mind to rebalance, renew and remember. In the same way, the mind can be distracted and then brought back into balance, life’s journey brings us home once again to the magical and mystical Parmarth Niketan on the banks of Maa Ganga.” Argentinian participant yoga teacher Sandra Barnes, said, “I come every year and I just love it. It’s so important to come home to connect and share.” 25 Years old Anjali Dabhi, who is visiting from London in United Kingdom, and serving as a volunteer at IYF (sevak) shared, “It’s my third time now in IYF and I am so grateful to be part of this festival and meeting new people from different backgrounds and cultures, all here to share the love of yoga. Once you come home to Parmarth Niketan, you will never have the feeling of leaving”