By Priya Sukhwani
The yoga festival was a gathering of yoga enthusiasts from all over the country. This year marked the 30th anniversary of this festival and it was inaugurated with a breathtaking drone show in the night skies of the town.

The entire city reverberated with the spirit of the festival, pulling from the various aspects of yoga. A warm, welcoming atmosphere greeted the participants through the joyousness exuded through the city’s decor of lights, Yogasana paintings and colourful chakra flags in the spirit of the festival.
The hallmark of the four–day festival was myriad of events, workshops, discussions on various topics related to yoga and wellbeing.
The most sought after event in the entire festival was the Yogasanas competitions held for both men and women across various age groups. The finale, a champions of champions event, had everyone at the edge of their seats in awe of each competitor, who took the stage. The excitement and energy at the event was one I had never witnessed before in the yoga field. Although the kids were competitors, they cheered for each other and encouraged each other to give their best, showcasing the mark and spirit of a true sportsperson, with yogic values of compassion and unity.

Besides the Yogasanas competition which is one of the main reasons for the gathering- Healthy holistic vegetarian food was provided on all 4 days. It was truly a yogi’s feast.
There were many interesting discussions and workshops broached throughout the festival, including:
Kalari by JJ Vasanth;
Mudgar and Gada by Chetan;
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) by Saatvika Mangharam;
Aligning your life’s purpose and passion by Arjun Arora;
Understanding the microcosm and macrocosm by Ekta Sharma;
Zentangle Art by Sandhya Manne;
Chakra Meditation by R. Elangovan;
Interconnection of Physiotherapy and Yoga by Vasanthara M;
Advanced Yogasanas performed on ice blocks by Guiness record holder G.P. Vijaya Kumar;
and many other unique programs.
Apart from the above, the cultural performances every evening were breathtaking. Artists from Kalarigram put up a great show one evening. Maalvika Sundar (Indian playback singer and actress) also gave a spectacular performance.
I was blessed with the opportunity to facilitate two events at the festival. One was a yoga, meditation and pranayama session at the iconic Gandhi square at Beach Road in Pondicherry. The other was a sound immersion as part of the cultural evening on one of the days.

The best part about participating in events like these, is the great networking opportunity it presents. I met with very respected scholars and individuals who have been deeply immersed in yoga and have integrated those practices and values for years now. Some of them being Sraddhalu Ranade ji, Krishna Mckenzie, Erode Mahesh and Yotam Agam.
The Chief minister, Governor and the tourism ministers also graced us with their presence during the inaugural and concluding ceremonies.
The festival was truly a treat for the body, mind and soul.
Thanks,
Priya
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