International Yoga Festival 2019

Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh, India

Festival Overview

What once was a small yoga event held at the foot of the sacred Himalayan Mountains in India, is now one of the biggest and most iconic yoga festivals in the world. The 30th Anniversary of the International Yoga Festival takes place 1st through 7th of March 2019, in Rishikesh, India and it will be a very special edition of this globally renowned event.

About IYF.

The International Yoga Festival (IYF) is the celebration of yoga - an ancient science that originates in Rishikesh, India - the place where the festival is held. Yoga is not only healthy for the body, it brings balance andharmony to the entire being - it is the science of wellbeing and health for the body, mind and soul.

IYF is a one-week festival and takes place each year from the 1st to the 7th of March at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, on the banks of the sacred Ganges river and in the lap of the holy Himalayan Mountains.

How it all began?

Uttar Pradesh Tourism started the International Yoga Festival in the 1980s but it wasn’t until 1999 that the government of Uttar Pradesh approached H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, the president and spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, to host the event in the ashram instead of at hotel. From this point, the festival started growing, attracting more and more people from around the globe. In 2018, there were more than 2000 participants from over 100 countries.

What to expect?

The IYF is one of the biggest yoga events in the whole wide world, attracting yogis, yoginis and spiritual seekers from all over the world. It is a glorious mix of colours, races, cultures, languages, brought together tounite with yoga. It is the union of east and west, north and south, embracing the divine that is in everyone and everything. The ambience is spiritual, awakening and harmonious. During this one-week Festival, attendees have the opportunity to participate in over 70 hours of Yoga classes from world-class Yoga masters of multiple styles of Yoga including Kundalini Yoga, Power Vinyasa Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation, Reiki, as well as lecgtures on Yoga, Vedanta, ancient Indian philosophy and Ayurveda. Addtionally there is Sacred Sound Stage offering a fantastic cultural song and dance performances, giving a wonderful flavour of the culture of India. The festivals have been featured in such prestigious international publications as TIME magazine, the NY Times, CNN, CNBC, Vanity Fairs and others.

Teachers/Presenter at IYF

The list of spiritual leaders coming to Parmarth Niketan Ashram for the IYF is extensive and very impressive. It is a mix of renowned Indian and international enlightened beings, with past attendees having included his holiness the Dalai Lama.

Accommodation

Participants may purchase tickets with accommodation in the ashram included or may purchase non-residential passes. There are no private rooms available in the ashram