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The Story of Our Nataraja

In February 2016, just a few months before the very first World Yoga Festival, Ram and I were in India visiting my family. We were on our way to Kolkata Airport to fly back to London when, out of nowhere, a thought came into my mind. I turned to Ram and said, "We need a large Nataraja for the festival." The idea had appeared out of nowhere, but it felt completely right. We asked our driver if he knew where we might find one. Without hesitation he smiled and said, "Yes, I know

Jul 252 min read

World Yoga Festival – Ten Years of Inspiration, Learning and Authentic Yoga

For the past ten years, I have had the privilege of being part of the World Yoga Festival, and each year it continues to reaffirm my belief that it is one of the most authentic and inspiring gatherings dedicated to Yoga and Sanātan Dharma anywhere in the world. In a time when yoga is often presented primarily as physical exercise, the World Yoga Festival offers something much deeper—a rare opportunity to experience yoga as a complete path of personal transformation, spiritual

Jun 143 min read

The Transformative Power of Havan

In the ancient Vedic tradition, Havan (or Yajña) is far more than a ritual—it is a sacred dialogue between the individual and the cosmic order. From the earliest hymns of the Rig Veda to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Yajña has been revered as a profound act of offering—one that purifies, harmonises, and connects the individual with the universal. The Rig Veda begins with a hymn to Agni, the sacred fire, describing it as the divine messenger who carries our offerings to

May 43 min read

Founder’s Reflection - A Journey Guided by Grace

2015-2016 The Call The festival did not begin as a plan. It began as a calling. In 2015, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati original vision for a festival arrived quietly through a visiting Swami, Swami Santatmananda. Like a seed gently placed in our hearts, it carried truth before it carried form. We did not fully understand it, but we felt its depth. When Beale Park finally revealed itself after much searching, it felt less like a decision and more like destiny. We had never a

Mar 195 min read

The Last Place You Look

A look back at the inspiration behind World Yoga Festival I used to smile when people said that whatever you are looking for always turns up in the last place you look. It sounded like a throwaway line — one of those phrases people repeat without thinking. But the truth is far simpler, and far more exacting. The moment you find what you are seeking, you stop looking. Seeking ends. So, of course, it is the last place. What I didn’t know then was how long it would take me to st

Feb 213 min read