The 30th Isha Mahashivratri celebration, themed on "Kashi," kicked off at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar lauding the event's unifying power and Sadhguru inaugurating the festivities alongside distinguished guests.
Coimbatore: The 30th anniversary of the Isha Mahashivratri festival, celebrated with a special theme centered on the ancient city of "Kashi," began with fervor at the Isha Yoga Center. Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, praised the event for transcending barriers of language, nationality, religion, and culture, highlighting its significance as a unifying global spectacle. He emphasized the unique methods of Bhakti, Kriya, Karma, and Gyan offered at the center, catering to the diverse needs of individuals worldwide.
The Vice President, serving as the guest of honor for the nightlong cultural extravaganza, along with his wife Dr. Sudhesh Dhankhar, inaugurated the celebrations on March 8, which started at 6 pm and continued till 6 am on March 9. Dhankhar expressed admiration for Sadhguru's efforts in spreading yoga and compassion across a divided world.
The event saw the presence of notable dignitaries including RN Ravi, Governor of Tamil Nadu, Indrasena Reddy, Governor of Tripura, Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Punjab, and L Murugan, Union Minister of State, among others. Sadhguru welcomed the Vice President and other guests, leading them through the Pancha Bhuta Kriya at the Dhyanalinga, and to the main venue at the iconic Adiyogi, where Dhankhar inaugurated the night-long celebrations by lighting the Mahayoga Yagna.
Sadhguru reminisced about the journey of the Mahashivratri festival at Isha, which began in 1994 with just over 70 participants. He shared the exponential growth of the event, which last year saw participation from over 140 million people worldwide, with this year's numbers expected to exceed 200 million. The significance of Mahashivratri, according to Sadhguru, is heightened by the natural upsurge of energy, particularly felt at Isha located at 11 degrees latitude, facilitating an upward movement of energy.
This year's Kashi-themed decorations at the Adiyogi venue were revealed by Sadhguru in a tweet, enhancing the ambiance and drawing parallels with the sacredness and beauty of Varanasi. The Vice President remarked on the resemblance of the Isha Yoga Center's ambiance to Kashi, feeling as if he were in the ancient city itself.
The event featured performances by Sounds of Isha, Isha Samskriti, and an eclectic lineup of artists including Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan, Rathijit Bhattacharjee, Dharavi rappers Paradox Tanishq Singh and MC Heam, folk sensation Gurudas Maan, and the versatile Mahalingam Marimuthu, among others. A duet by renowned Carnatic vocalist Sandeep Narayan with singer Prithvi Gardhav added to the night's unforgettable musical experiences.
Thousands of devotees, including 1,900 international attendees from 72 countries and over 4,000 volunteers, participated in the mega event, which was broadcast in 22 languages and live-streamed by over 200 television channels and digital platforms. For the first time, the event was also screened in select movie theaters, making the 30th Isha Mahashivratri a truly global celebration.
The Vice President, serving as the guest of honor for the nightlong cultural extravaganza, along with his wife Dr. Sudhesh Dhankhar, inaugurated the celebrations on March 8, which started at 6 pm and continued till 6 am on March 9. Dhankhar expressed admiration for Sadhguru's efforts in spreading yoga and compassion across a divided world.
The event saw the presence of notable dignitaries including RN Ravi, Governor of Tamil Nadu, Indrasena Reddy, Governor of Tripura, Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Punjab, and L Murugan, Union Minister of State, among others. Sadhguru welcomed the Vice President and other guests, leading them through the Pancha Bhuta Kriya at the Dhyanalinga, and to the main venue at the iconic Adiyogi, where Dhankhar inaugurated the night-long celebrations by lighting the Mahayoga Yagna.
Sadhguru reminisced about the journey of the Mahashivratri festival at Isha, which began in 1994 with just over 70 participants. He shared the exponential growth of the event, which last year saw participation from over 140 million people worldwide, with this year's numbers expected to exceed 200 million. The significance of Mahashivratri, according to Sadhguru, is heightened by the natural upsurge of energy, particularly felt at Isha located at 11 degrees latitude, facilitating an upward movement of energy.
This year's Kashi-themed decorations at the Adiyogi venue were revealed by Sadhguru in a tweet, enhancing the ambiance and drawing parallels with the sacredness and beauty of Varanasi. The Vice President remarked on the resemblance of the Isha Yoga Center's ambiance to Kashi, feeling as if he were in the ancient city itself.
The event featured performances by Sounds of Isha, Isha Samskriti, and an eclectic lineup of artists including Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan, Rathijit Bhattacharjee, Dharavi rappers Paradox Tanishq Singh and MC Heam, folk sensation Gurudas Maan, and the versatile Mahalingam Marimuthu, among others. A duet by renowned Carnatic vocalist Sandeep Narayan with singer Prithvi Gardhav added to the night's unforgettable musical experiences.
Thousands of devotees, including 1,900 international attendees from 72 countries and over 4,000 volunteers, participated in the mega event, which was broadcast in 22 languages and live-streamed by over 200 television channels and digital platforms. For the first time, the event was also screened in select movie theaters, making the 30th Isha Mahashivratri a truly global celebration.