The Isha Maha Shivratri festival at the Isha Yoga Center, hailed for attracting modern-day youth worldwide, was celebrated grandly, with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressing immense pride in the event's global reach and cultural significance.
Coimbatore: The Isha Maha Shivratri Festival, held at the Isha Yoga Center, has garnered praise for its grandeur and ability to attract contemporary youth from around the globe.
"The festival is commendably conducted in such a grand manner that it appeals to modern-day youth worldwide," Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar remarked with pride.
The 30th anniversary of the Maha Shivratri festival at the Coimbatore Isha Yoga Center was celebrated with great pomp today.
The Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, who attended as a special guest, highlighted in his speech: "Participating in the Isha Maha Shivratri festival, conducted in the presence of Sadhguru, is a great honor and fortune in my life. Maha Shivratri is an important festival in our Indian culture, yet the celebration at Isha is unique and unparalleled, drawing modern-day youth from across the world. It transcends religion, language, race, and nationality, bringing everyone together in a commendable celebration. Furthermore, Isha teaches yoga through the paths of karma, bhakti, gnana, and kriya. Sadhguru's efforts to take yoga to every nook and corner of the world, for the wellbeing of humanity, are truly praiseworthy. I extend my heartfelt congratulations for all his endeavors."
Sadhguru, in his inaugural address, stated, "This year marks the 30th Maha Shivratri festival at Isha. The first Maha Shivratri festival in 1994 was celebrated with just 70 people. A 75-year-old grandmother sang through the night, her devotion profoundly moving. Last year, the festival was viewed by approximately 140 million people worldwide, and we expect the number to reach 200 million this year. The planetary positions on Maha Shivratri naturally elevate life energies, making it not just a day of awakening but a time to experience the various dimensions of life."
Besides the Vice President, the event was graced by dignitaries including Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, Tripura Governor Indira Sena Reddy, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, and Union Minister of State L. Murugan. They were welcomed by Sadhguru and visited various energy spots within Isha, including the Surya Kund, Naga Sannidhi, Linga Bhairavi, and Dhyanalinga, and participated in the Pancha Bhuta Kriya.
The festival, which started at 6 PM and continued until the next morning at 6 AM, saw participation not just from India but from people across various countries. The stage, adorned to resemble the Varanasi temple towers, captivated everyone. The night was alive with performances by Grammy Award-winning singer Shankar Mahadevan, who enthralled the audience, followed by Tamil folk singer Mahalingam, who shook the stage with his powerful voice in songs about divinity, agriculture, and land. Youth from Mumbai's Dharavi slum performed Tamil and Hindi rap songs, increasing the enthusiasm among the attendees. Lebanese drummers, renowned Carnatic singer Sandeep Narayan, and Sufi singers Guru Das Mann, and Rathijit Bhattacharjee added to the festival's splendor.
In addition to these performances, the midnight and pre-dawn hours of Maha Shivratri witnessed millions chanting the powerful "Aum Namah Shivaya" mantra and engaging in intense meditation sessions with Sadhguru, marking the highlight of the festival.
"The festival is commendably conducted in such a grand manner that it appeals to modern-day youth worldwide," Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar remarked with pride.
The 30th anniversary of the Maha Shivratri festival at the Coimbatore Isha Yoga Center was celebrated with great pomp today.
The Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, who attended as a special guest, highlighted in his speech: "Participating in the Isha Maha Shivratri festival, conducted in the presence of Sadhguru, is a great honor and fortune in my life. Maha Shivratri is an important festival in our Indian culture, yet the celebration at Isha is unique and unparalleled, drawing modern-day youth from across the world. It transcends religion, language, race, and nationality, bringing everyone together in a commendable celebration. Furthermore, Isha teaches yoga through the paths of karma, bhakti, gnana, and kriya. Sadhguru's efforts to take yoga to every nook and corner of the world, for the wellbeing of humanity, are truly praiseworthy. I extend my heartfelt congratulations for all his endeavors."
Sadhguru, in his inaugural address, stated, "This year marks the 30th Maha Shivratri festival at Isha. The first Maha Shivratri festival in 1994 was celebrated with just 70 people. A 75-year-old grandmother sang through the night, her devotion profoundly moving. Last year, the festival was viewed by approximately 140 million people worldwide, and we expect the number to reach 200 million this year. The planetary positions on Maha Shivratri naturally elevate life energies, making it not just a day of awakening but a time to experience the various dimensions of life."
Besides the Vice President, the event was graced by dignitaries including Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, Tripura Governor Indira Sena Reddy, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, and Union Minister of State L. Murugan. They were welcomed by Sadhguru and visited various energy spots within Isha, including the Surya Kund, Naga Sannidhi, Linga Bhairavi, and Dhyanalinga, and participated in the Pancha Bhuta Kriya.
The festival, which started at 6 PM and continued until the next morning at 6 AM, saw participation not just from India but from people across various countries. The stage, adorned to resemble the Varanasi temple towers, captivated everyone. The night was alive with performances by Grammy Award-winning singer Shankar Mahadevan, who enthralled the audience, followed by Tamil folk singer Mahalingam, who shook the stage with his powerful voice in songs about divinity, agriculture, and land. Youth from Mumbai's Dharavi slum performed Tamil and Hindi rap songs, increasing the enthusiasm among the attendees. Lebanese drummers, renowned Carnatic singer Sandeep Narayan, and Sufi singers Guru Das Mann, and Rathijit Bhattacharjee added to the festival's splendor.
In addition to these performances, the midnight and pre-dawn hours of Maha Shivratri witnessed millions chanting the powerful "Aum Namah Shivaya" mantra and engaging in intense meditation sessions with Sadhguru, marking the highlight of the festival.