Rishikesh yoga surge
The International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh drew more than 10,000 global attendees and featured 250 instructors this year — a major uptick that underscores yoga’s pull for community fitness and flexibility work (newsable.asianetnews.com). Uttarakhand’s governor highlighted the event’s role in gathering youth and promoting holistic well‑being amid the Himalayan setting (news.webindia123.com).
This year’s activity in Rishikesh ran as two linked events: the Parmarth Niketan International Yoga Festival held March 9–15, and a separate Uttarakhand government–backed International Yog Festival at GMVN’s Ganga Resort, Muni Ki Reti, scheduled March 16–22. (internationalyogafestival.org) Parmarth’s press materials and state press notes put its gathering at roughly 1,200–1,500 yoga practitioners representing more than 80 countries during the week of programming. (gg2.net) The government-organised GMVN festival positioned itself as a larger multi-day event offering packaged stays, cultural evenings and a 50‑hour yoga training certificate for participants at Ganga Resort, Muni Ki Reti. (internationalyogfestival.co.in) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami used the festival platform to outline the state’s Yoga Policy 2025, including a proposed Rs 10 crore allocation for yoga promotion and plans for district-level AYUSH hospital beds. (newsable.asianetnews.com) Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) took part in Parmarth’s proceedings on March 14, joined the grand Ganga Aarti on the banks of the Ganga, and publicly congratulated Swami Chidanand Muni and Parmarth Niketan for organising the event. (governoruk.gov.in) Festival programs at Parmarth included more than 70 hours of daily classes and evening spiritual discussions, while the GMVN schedule highlighted Uttarakhand Haat stalls, certification courses and cultural performances alongside yoga sessions. (internationalyogafestival.org)
