“VIP Pass” for this “three-day celebration of yoga, music
and community" costs $1,099 and it claims to offer “world-class yoga
instructors, mind-blowing music, inspirational experiences and a nourishing
community” at the foot of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. “Immerse yourself in body, mind and
heart as you relax and rejuvenate, dance and devote, connect and expand, have
fun and just be…”, its announcement adds.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA)
today, lauded the efforts of Hanuman Festival organizers for spreading
awareness about Lord Hanuman, greatly revered by Hindus; and celebrating yoga,
a world heritage and liberation powerhouse introduced and nourished by Hinduism
but meant to be utilized by all.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism,
urged the organizers to use part of the revenues from the Festival to raise a Lord Hanuman
Temple in Boulder. Son of wind-god, Hanuman, besides
incredible strength and changing shape at will and flying, was believed to be a
perfect grammarian, great scholar and excelled in all the sciences. According
to a legend, even while he was still an infant, he intimidated the sun.
According to a belief, all the planets were under his control, Zed explained.
This “community-oriented yoga and music festival” will offer
workshops in Vinyasa, Kundalini, Hatha, Ashtanga and Therapeutic styles of
yoga; “creating a holistic yoga experience”. “Yogic, heart centered music” will
fill the air by a music line-up which includes "Desert Dwellers", DJ
Drez, White Swan artists, besides kirtan chants of David Newman (Durga Das).
This celebratory “Hanuman Festival’s mission is to practice true SEVA, and give
to our local and global community”, Festival announcement states.
Rajan Zed asks yoga fans to explore the spiritual dimension
of yoga also, because actually yoga is a mental and physical discipline by
means of which the human-soul (jivatman) unites with universal-soul
(parmatman). According to Patanjali, author of the basic text, the Yoga Sutra,
yoga is a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the
different elements of human nature, physical and psychical. Yoga is one of the
six schools of orthodox Hindu philosophy, take a look at the rest of the five
schools also, Zed suggests.
Yoga retreats, some charging as much as $4495, are becoming
popular world over. According to a recent research by Bloomberg Rankings, “the
potential cost for a woman living in New
York to start practicing yoga and to continue for one
year” came to $10,779. About 16 million Americans, including many celebrities,
are said to practice yoga.