International Yoga Festival
Location: Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh
Dates: March 1-7, 2019
Cost: Starts at $450 USD per person for non-Indian citizens
The International Yoga Festival, set in Rishikesh, known all over the world as the birthplace of yoga, has come a long way from its origins. What started as a modest gathering in the very late nineties is now a famous yoga festival that attracts a couple of thousand visitors from all over the world.
Besides more than 70 hours of Yoga sessions that feature different yoga styles and renowned teachers, the festival also includes lectures, a lighting ceremony, campfires, and cultural performances.
SunSunLove Yoga Solstice Fest
Location: Anantha Niketan Ashram, Tamil Nadu
Dates: December 17-22, 2018
Cost: Starts at $115 USD per person
Though SunSunLove’s Yoga Solstice Fest isn’t as big as the International Yoga Festival, it’s still one of the best ones worthy of a mention. They’ve got two solstice fests, one for the Summer Solstice in Barcelona and one for the upcoming Winter Solstice, to be set a stone’s throw away from the holy hill of Arunachala in Tamil Nadu, India.
This Yoga Winter Solstice Fest is about more than improving and developing your yoga and meditation practices. It’s also a celebration of life and nature, as well as solstices and equinoxes, connecting with yourself and others, singing, dancing, sharing, and communing with nature are also on the activities menu.
The Yogshala Expo
Location: New Delhi, India
Dates: May 10-12, 2019
Cost: Free for visitors
India’s Fourth International Yoga, Health & Wellness Expo, held for three days in 2019, in the country’s capital is not exactly a yoga festival. However, this exhibit, trade show, and the conference is quite an important event for the yoga, health and wellness industry, as it connects small businesses with larger ones, among many other things.
More than twelve speakers are scheduled for the 2019 event, along with over 60 exhibitors. Potential consumers and customers are more than welcome to participate in seminars, get updated on the latest trends, and possibly even sample products.
International Day of Yoga
Location: All over India
Dates: June 21, 2019
Cost: Many activities in different cities are free
June 21 will see the whole country—not to mention, the world—celebrating the International Day of Yoga. Celebrating International Yoga Day is indeed a national event, last year offices closed; schools participated, as did the Navy; and even prison inmates took part.
It’s too early to say what events are planned for the 2019 celebration, but if last year’s festivities were any indication, without any doubt, it’s going to be massive.
International Yoga & Music Festival
Location: Nada Yoga School, Swargashram, Rishikesh
Dates: November 1 – 7, 2018
Cost: Free, limited seating
International Yoga & Music Festival is also set in Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world. Unlike the International Yoga Festival, it aims to amalgamate yoga practices with Indian classical and contemporary music in a week-long event.
What’s more is it’s free. All that’s asked for from attendees is one of the following three things: an offering, a service, or the passing of the knowledge (as in the Vedic tradition). Last year’s festival featured classes, discussions, meditation, performances, and concerts.