Vivekananda Kendra organised International Yoga Sastra Sangamam from 24th to 26th February 2023 at Vivekanandapuram, Kanyakumari. Total number of 419 participants consisting of 212 men and 207 women participated from 16 states of Bharat, from Singapore, Bali and Afghanistan.
During this international conference 5 plenary sessions and 11 parallel sessions were held. 115 papers were presented by research scholars, PhD. Students, professors, Yoga teachers, Yoga practitioners and Yoga consultants. Swami Shivananda Babaji from Varanasi aged 127 years who is the recipient of Padmashree award was present in the Yoga Sastra Sangamam on 24th and 25th February. His Divine presence and Yogic life style was an inspiration and blessing to everyone. Presence of a living Yogi was an illustration of Yoga Sastra. The book containing the proceedings of the conference was released during the inaugural session.
The conference was co-organised with Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala and Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharmashala. There were delegates from leading universities, institutions and organizations. Conference was inaugurated by Swami Shivanandaji and graced by Mananeeya Balakrishnanji, President of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra and Mananeeya Nivedita Bhide Didi, Vice president of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra.
On all three days, Patanjali Homam was conducted at the Ushodaya time and concurrently Patanjali Ashtottaram and Yoga Sutras were chanted by the delegates. The beautiful soul elevating dance recital by the students of VKV Kanyakumari added the colour to the Conference. Some of the students and delegates demonstrated advanced Asanas. There were five winners out of the eleven delegates who participated in the Patanjali Yoga Sutra chanting competition.
Mananeeya Bhanudasji Dhakras, General Secretary of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra addressed the delegates in the valedictory function held on 26th February.
