Step into
the venue of the India Yoga Festival in Ashwem and one is greeted with a warm
‘Namaste’ with folded hands by people who look nothing like Indians. The second
edition of the festival that is underway at the beachside property of La Cabana
Beach and Spa has attracted around 250 yoga enthusiasts from all over the
world, out of which very few are from India. The festival that started on
January 9, 2015 ironically aims to increase awareness about Yoga in India. The
festival concludes today, January 11.
Helen Say,
a yoga practitioner from Britain, is one of the 25 renowned Yoga teachers who
are conducting various sessions at the four venues spread across the property –
The main resort area, the garden, indoor and the makeshift Ganesh temple that
has been set up at the venue. Helen, a former Business Consultant who used to
work with Cisco Systems, took to Yoga after realising its importance in her
life. She says, “It is quite saddening to see that the younger generation of
India has very little knowledge of how great Yoga is. It is quite ironic that
the West is doing everything to make use of this rich Indian art of fitness
whereas the Indians are neglecting their home-bred treasure in an attempt to
ape the Western culture.”
The
three-day festival includes classes, workshops and kirtans. Adding a sense of
variety to the festival, 20 different styles of Yoga are being discussed and
practised. Other programmes include Sunset Kirtans, Hanuman Chalisas,
Traditional Fire Pujas, Aaratis, etc. While the festival offers ticketed entry,
many of the activities are offered free of charge.
