International Yoga Day celebrations took place in Rishikesh at Parmarth Niketan, with leadership of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji (Pujya Swamiji) and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji (Sadhviji) on Sunday.
The grand Yoga gathering, which took place in the holy presence and with the blessings and inspiration of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, brought hundreds of pilgrims together and started with a large Yoga class, which included the International Yoga Day protocol, as circulated by the Ministry of AYUSH, and also included asana, pranayama and chanting by Yogacharyas Sadhvi Abha Saraswatiji and Indu Sharmaji.
The hour long session also included a beautiful meditation and words of inspiration by Sadhviji in which she congratulated and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the momentous achievement of bringing the world together as one family for Yoga.
Participants from over 30 countries joined eagerly and enthusiastically in the celebrations, at Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh), including countries such as India, America, Africa, Austria, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Nepal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine amongst others.
