Yoga has long been a preferred relaxation technique for a lot of people in Goa. Each season, thousands of tourists land in the state, looking to either attend classes or become instructors in different forms of yoga that exist. You can experience this more towards North Goa along the Morjim to Arambol beach belt. However, over this weekend, Miramar beach played host to the World Yoga Festival.
Realising the importance of yoga at the World Yoga Festival
Over the weekend, women were heard chanting mantras and performed ‘Mahaayagy’ on the occasion of four-day World Yoga Festival in Goa at Miramar beach. There were also many others that participated in ‘Yoga Sadhana’ on this same beach.
The World Yoga Festival was organized to present the true nature of Goan culture to the world and also help people realise how important yoga as a form of exercise and relaxation is. The International Sadguru Foundation (India) and World Yoga Community (USA) collaborated with the Goa Tourism Development Corporation to organize this festival.
The ‘Yoga Sadhana’ was demonstrated in the presence of the world Yoga community (USA) president Dileepkumar Thankappan and the founder of the International Sadguru Foundation, Brahmeshanandacharya Swami. Swami Gopalnandanji demonstrated ‘Hasya Yoga’.
Speaking at the World Yoga Festival, Brahmeshanandcharya Swami said, “Yoga festival should be a part of Goa yearly and the government should celebrate it as an annual event. Goa which is a tourist destination should be known as Yoga Bhumi – the land of Yoga.” He went on to add that, “Yoga is a part of India’s culture and Rishi-munis have transferred this profound knowledge to us. In order to unite the world and spread the knowledge of healthy life, India is spreading Yoga in the world.”
A Yoga festival to remember
Union Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent charge) Shripad Naik was present as a special guest for the World Yoga Festival at Miramar beach. He addressed the gathering, saying that he was happy to witness this programme in Goa and after looking at the festival it seemed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream was coming true.
“For the first time around 170 countries have accepted Yoga and AYUSH ministry is striving to keep every individual happy. After witnessing this event there is no doubt that Yoga will reach every house,” he said.
The festival concluded with a devotional music concert. The programme was compared by Chandrashekhar Gawas.
Information credit – Navhind Times
ItsGoa/FEB/KDGP
