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 The International Yoga Festival was
originally a creation of Uttar Pradesh
Tourism, in the days when Rishikesh was
still part of Uttar Pradesh. Held at Hotel
Ganga Kinare in the first week of February,
the Festival ran for many years and
attracted a small number of participants. In
1999, the Government of Uttar Pradesh
approached Parmarth Niketan Ashram to host
the Festival at the ashram. Participants
were still staying at the hotels, but their
classes and programs were held at Parmarth.
Pujya Swami Veda Bharatiji gave
inspiring discourse and led mediations.
Yogasanas were taught by Yogacharya
Bharat Bhushanji and his team. The Uttar
Pradesh Tourism Department was led by
Shri Ravindra Singh, Director General
Tourism, Shri B.M. Vohra, Commissioner,
Garhwal and Shri R.C. Pandey, Assistant
Director, Tourism.
What began with a handful of people in a
hotel, studying under one or two yogacharyas
has grown into one of the most renowned
Festivals in the world, attracting several
hundred participants from more than 30
countries across the globe to learn from
dozens of
yogacharyas in an innumerable variety of
styles and forms.
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