While Parmarth Niketan Ashram on the banks of the holy Ganga river was where the main festival was being held, every hotel and ashram had their own yoga and meditation programme led by experts and guests joined in for long yoga sessions, throughout the day, for all seven days. The atmosphere of the whole city was so solemn and charged with the vibrancy of meditation and yoga. The hotel I was staying at had a daily schedule that included yoga sessions, meditation classes, various therapies and satsang sessions. I, along with other guests started the day at the banks of the hotel’s private Ganga ghat. The sight of the Ganga flowing in full force as the sun rises spreading its crimson hue is magical. Remembering the divine forces first thing in the morning gives energy to start my day on a positive note. It was a very assuring feeling. The food we eat is an integral part of our well-being, so the breakfast served consisted of a healthy spread of fruits, fresh juice, and mostly vegetarian fare. A slight gaze around the breakfast area, and for the first time it struck me that it was a global community that was sitting at the bank of the holy Ganga. A sense of pride filled my heart to know how Yoga has already become a way of life for many people across continents. Everyone here was so courteous and greeted each other with a smile. The day continued as I hopped from one session to another with lunch thrown in. The evening was kept free to witness the most amazing sight of Ganga aarti. While the hotel did aarti at its private ghat, most of us went to the nearby Triveni Ghat to watch the mesmerizing Ganga aarti. The sight of hundreds of diyas (oil lamps) lit together is completely enthralling. The divine chanting of slokas filled the air, and as the men in orange swayed the lamps in circular motions, it was pure magic. People set small diya on leaf plates afloat with prayer in their hearts and a strong belief that the holy Ganga will never disappoint them.
The next day, I along with two girls from America set aside some time to explore Rishikesh. They are school friends and this was their second visit to India. Strong believers in the power of Yoga, they practice yoga regularly. It is a way of life for them and coming to Rishikesh for the International Yoga Festival was their dream come true. We crossed the Ram Jhula and on the other side the vibe was completely magical. People were seen chanting prayers and they all seemed to be busy with their schedule.
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“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self,” says Bhagavad Gita. It was early March, and I was invited by a boutique property to cover the International Yoga Festival held in Rishikesh. It was the first time that I was visiting Rishikesh and was quite clueless about what the atmosphere would be there. Yoga in the meantime had become a world phenomenon, and though I was aware of the immense popularity of the festival, I definitely was not prepared for what I saw in Rishikesh. The week-long International Yoga Festival held in the month of March every year is attended by yoga enthusiasts from across the globe. While there were Indians of all age groups coming in from across the country, there were also visitors from every other part of the world.
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Tourists and visitors surpassed the number of locals here. We crossed the very famous Chotiwala Restaurant. While the restaurant is known for its delicious fare, the mascot - a man with Choti (long erect ponytail) is what pulls many visitors. Rishikesh also has many bakeries and cafes serving multi-national dishes. From soups, apple pie, sizzlers, and puddings to bruschetta, there are enough options to choose from. There were many shops selling tea and quick snacks. We took a short coffee break and headed towards the Parmarth Niketan Ashram which was flooded with students and tourists who had come for the festival. The lanes of Rishikesh are quite magical - they have small kiosks selling almost everything under the sky. From oils to fight hair fall to energy boosters and aphrodisiac drugs, Rishikesh is a haven for magic potions. Foreigners were seen flocking tiny shops selling stones and bead jewelry. The atmosphere was fair-like and we enjoyed every bit of it. Our last stop for the day was at the Parmarth Aarti Sthal. As we reached the ghats, the multi-tier lamps were just brought in. The heady mix of smoke from the diyas, the smell of incense, and the holy chants, all filled the air. As the sun was setting down on the other side of the holy Ganga, the chants grew louder and the magic was unparalleled.
