Live-wire energy enveloped the Isha Yoga Center as it celebrated its annual 12-hour cultural extravaganza, Mahashivaratri, beginning at 6 pm on March 1.
COIMBATORE: For the first time, Isha Yoga Centre’s all-night Mahashivaratri celebration that is filled with music, dance and immersive meditative experience, was held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The entire celebration was live streamed and telecast across 100 channels in multiple languages including English, Hindi, Nepali, Russian and French for its devotees across the world.
Only a few thousands of people were allowed to participate in person at the celebrations after producing Covid negative certificates.
All the government guidelines, including temperature screening, ensuring facemasks and social distance, were adhered to in the event.
The night began with the Linga Bhairavi yatra, followed by Panchbhuta Kriya which was performed by founder of the center Jaggi Vasudev.
He emerges from his vintage, 1980s racing blue J40 Toyota cruiser “Jeep” looking quite regal, like a potentate from another age and clime. He is also dressed in matching blue, with his signature turban and long scarf. He is dot on time. We’re meeting in the courtyard of the “Home School” inside Isha Yoga Centre, at the foot of the Velliangiri hills.
In addition to some 4000 resident volunteers, to his ashram or spiritual retreat flock tens of thousands. They come mostly to see the 112ft sculpture of the “Adi Yogi.”
Made of steel, this structure has entered it to the Guinness Book of World Records as largest bust in the world. There’s also a laser show to light it up and explain its purpose. Busloads of tourists are deposited at its entrance and whisked away after their visit.