Yoga Vidya Niketan completed 51 years of the Institute on Gudi Padwa i.e. April 9, 2024 and the entire year of the celebration also came towards an end. The function began at 3:30pm at Yoga Bhavan, Vashi, Navi Mumbai. The guests of honour for the function were Dr N Ganesh Rao, the famous exponent of Yoga; Director, SAAC, IYA and Dr Abhijit Phadnis, IIT. Smt Pooja Oak, daughter of Shri Nimbalkar Guruji also marked her presence.
They all along with President of YVN Dr. Shrikant Badwe, Chairman Mahesh Sinkar, Vice Chairman Yogacharya Shri Durgadas Savant, Trustee representative Shri Vinod Joshi offered floral tribute to the statues of Swamiji Kuwalayananda and Padmashri Yogacharya Nimbalkar Guruji at the entrance of Yoga Bhavan. Thereafter, these dignitaries offered flowers to photos of late Capt. Shri Vijay Chitnis and late Smt Jayashri Vijay Chitnis, the devoted couple who have dedicated their lives to the noble work started by Guruji.
The function started with YVN tradition of three Omkar and prayer by Smt. Smita Menon. First offering was Bhajan of Sant Kabir sung by Vashi Yoga Teacher Ms Neelima. It was followed by highly skillful display of Yoga and Shuddhi Kriya demonstrations under the guidance of senior Yoga teacher Smt. Manjushri Deshpande from Vashicentre. YVN General Secretary Shri Rajendra Joshi welcomed the dignitaries on stage.
Famous Mumbai Doordarshan anchor Ms. Shweta Soparkar who is also a trained Yoga teacher from YVN, presented welcome song in her melodious voice. Vice President of Maharashtra Chapter of Indian Yoga association and Vice Chairman of YVN, Yogacharya Shri Durgadas Savant, introduced the guests to the public in his usual crisp manner.
On behalf of Yoga Vidya Niketan, President of YVN Dr. Shrikant Badweand, Chairman Shri Mahesh Sinkar felicitated the guests Dr Ganesh Rao, Dr Abhijit Phadnis and Smt. Pooja Oak, traditionally, by offering ‘Shawl, Shrifala and sapling’.
YVN’s Trustee’s representative Shri Vinod Joshi then felicitated YVN’s senior Yoga teacher and ex. Trustee, 86 years old, Shri Y. G. Deshpande in the similar traditional manner for firstly putting forth,to the Jubilee Organizing Committeethe idea of celebrating the Golden Jubilee Year by organizing various workshops all across the country.
Yoga Vidya Niketan started a very prestigious award ‘Yoga Ratna’, first time in its history to show respect to someone who has dedicatedly offered to serve spreading Yoga in the society. This time this honour was conferred on eighty-four years old Shri Mukundji Bedekar Sir for offering his services for more than half a century. Mrs. Bedekar too was felicitated at this time. Representatives of ‘Ambika Yoga Kutir’, Thane and 88 years old senior Yoga teacher, Mrs. Arunaben Shah of Ghantali Mitra Mandal, Ghatkopar too felicitated Shri Bedekar Sir.
The souvenirs to be distributed in memory of the Golden Jubilee of YVN were inaugurated by the dignitaries. One such item, a useful cotton shoulder bag printed with YVN logo was especially appreciated by many. YVN Trustee Shri Vishwanath Mahajan gave Vote of Thanks in his usual soft and gentle manner. As per Guruji’s humble teaching of expressing gratitude towards each and every one, Shri Nathu Gole aka Buva, YVN’s humble Karmayogi who serves all and sundry at Yoga Bhavan, too was felicitated. All the Yoga Sadhakas who actively participated in making the Jubilee year successful were awarded with ‘Appreciation Certificates’.