<strong>Namaskar</strong> • A Voice for Yoga in Asia 16
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2006</strong> • <strong>Namaskar</strong> Special Feature Gone to Rishikesh Allen Fu John Lennon and George Harrison put Rishikesh on the “map”, in the eyes of the West, when they went there to study transcendental meditation in 1968 Since then this town in the north of India has grown to be the yoga capital of the world. Rishikesh is located on the banks of the Ganges, with hills on both sides. The Ganges is one of India’s seven sacred rivers and is well maintained and clear. In the ancient Indian writings, Mahabharata and Ramayana, the Ganges is said to flow from the foot of Hindu God Vishnu, Preserver of the Universe. Every year in February/March an International Yoga Festival is held in Rishikesh. The Ganga Aarti festival includes classes on asanas, meditation, pranayama, demonstrations, lectures and special cultural programmes such as singing and dancing. When I arrived at Rishikesh, I found accommodation in an ashram which offered daily Iyengar classes. The yoga class started at 4 p.m. and lasted for two hours. Usually participants arrived at the studio an hour before to do their own practice. Unlike most yoga classes outside India, almost two thirds of the participants here were male. During my free time, I explored the area. With two bridges, Lakshma Jhula and Shivanand Jhula linking both banks, I easily accessed the various parts of Rishikesh on foot. The whole area has a very strong yoga atmosphere, lots of yogis from around the world come to study here. Posters advertising yoga courses, talks, pranayama, shatkarmas, meditation and retreat are easily found. Besides ashrams, most of the guesthouses and hotels offer classes on different types of yoga (Hatha, Iyengar, Asthanga, etc) and meditation. Apart from yoga, classes on Ayurveda, stretching, Indian dance, music, philosophy and spirituality are also found. Whether you come to Rishikesh for sightseeing, yoga, study or shopping, you will not be disappointed. The Ganga Aarti which attracts hundreds of people is performed by Parmarth Niketan Ashram on the bank of the Ganges every evening at sunset. The Aarti is a ceremony of respect to the river Ganga. During the Aarti, groups of priests and children sit in rows with deepas (oil lamps) along each side of the river. They chant prayers, sing devotional songs and offer their homage to Ganga, Shiva, Sun and the whole Universe. Devotees and visitors join in chanting and singing. They also bring diyas (bowl of flowers with a wick lamp) and launch them in the Ganga. The golden reflection of floral diyas in the river Ganges at twilight is one of the most enchanting sights of the Ganga’s Aarti ceremony. Since the Ganga is a sacred river, the water is considered clean and clear. Many people swim or bathe in the river, especially in the early morning. During the sunrise and sunset, visitors and priests meditate on the rocks along both sides of the bank. Rishikesh is one of the best places in the world to get books and CDs on yoga, spiritual, philosophy and Ayurveda. You don’t have to worry about over weight luggage, as most of the book shops offer packing and mailing services. It is also a good place to get rudraksh mala (a string of beads made of seeds of rudraksh tree), said to be the tear drops of Shiva. Besides ashrams, many pharmacy shops sell Ayuverdic medicines and health products. One has to bear in mind that Rishikesh is a place for holy pilgrimages and so is predominantly vegetarian. But if you’re missing home, don’t worry, you can also find Italian and French food there too. Allen Fu is a cer ertif tified ied personal fitness trainer who has been practicing yoga since e 1997. . He has completed his yoga teacher training in Hong Kong and India. 17