Guest guest Posted December 5, 2004 Report Share Posted December 5, 2004 Impressions of an Indian Student on the Twelfth Annual Yoga Festival 2004 The Twelfth Annual Yoga Festival sponsored by the Tourism Department, Government of Pondicherry, was according to many participants the “best to date” Held every year from January 4th to 7th, it was begun in 1993, under the direct inspiration and guidance of Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri. It has grown in scope and stature, year by year and this year saw more than 1000 active participants with thousands more thronging the huge thatched pandal on the scenic Pondy Coastal promenade on the Bay of Bengal, the site of the Festival. A spectacular Yoga Asana Competition with more than 700 contestants from nearly every Indian state and some foreign countries as well, was a big crowd puller as Olympic standard Yoga Asanas were performed effortlessly and gracefully. The spectacular cultural performance, including the elaborate inaugural night Bharat Natyam performance by Yoganjali Natyalayam was widely applauded for its unique choreographic and theme – the five Chakras were depicted in dance, showing their relationship to the five elements (Pancha Maha Bhutas). In another item, a juggle bandhi (asthetic mixture) of Bharat Natyam and Yoga Asanas was shown the Yoga Natyalayam team of Yoga demonstration showed mind-blow. Yoga Asana tableaus weere also featured Eminent Yoga experts from all over the world array of tops, in the Lecture Sessions held simultaneously in an adjacent pandal. Students undergoing training in the Six Month International Yoga Teachers Training Course at ICYER presented excellent speeches in their sessions and earned a good name for the Institute. All in all, an enlightening experience! Yogacharya Shaminder Singh Haryana, India It was a real festival. Involvement of people from all over the country and abroad, participation of people of all ages and variety of events viz. speeches, asana competitions, written and oral competitions, stalls etc. all collectively made an impression of real festival. This is Rishi Culture Prampara’s unique contribution that the Pondy Government and its department like Dept. of Tourism have been conducting the festival which is a model for energy government on the earth. I enjoyed all activities of the festival but many speeches were really thought-provoking and I’m seeing a clear future of Yoga in its real form through these types of efforts. Yoga is taking a shape in present time, we are to open and sensitive, we are to pour our “Ahutu” so that it can grow but we should be careful as it isn’t to lose the originality of tradition furnished by many many sages. I enjoyed and leant a lot and grew Yogically through the festival. The Festival made me realise what a crucial time this is for the development of Yoga in India. We must all work hard to make certain that Yoga remains true to the spirit of our Yogic Rishis and does not degenerate into commercialized glamorous, business. ----- compiled by Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani Consultant Yoga Expert International Yoga Festival Tourism Directorate, Govt of Pondicherry, Pondicherry-1 ----- Join us at the 13th International Yoga Festival from Jan 4th - 7th 2005 and enjoy 'Peaceful Pondicherry', the Cultural Yoga Capital of the World Yoga Community The all-new My – Get yours free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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