Emcee Shiv Aggarwal

The event,’Baba Ramdev on Yoga and India’s current challenges ‘was attended by over 1,400 community members who gave a rousing standing ovation to bearded, pony-tailed,charismatic, smiling Swamiji clad in orange, as he entered the banquet hall and took his seat on the stage.
The Global Mall owner and noted philanthropist Shiv Aggarwal welcomed all and said, “Atlanta is blessed with Swamiji’s long awaited visit. Swamiji who is highly proficient in Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedic scriptures has a huge following of over a hundred million yoga enthusiasts worldwide, who either attend his Yoga camps in different parts of India or follow his yoga lessons on India’s popular Aastha and Zee T/V channels, videos and CDs. He is sure to enlighten us today on health and wellness through Yoga. ”
Mayor Johnson garlanded Swamiji and said, “We are so honored to have you here and to receive your blessings. My thanks to Shiv Aggarwal for making you available to us. You honor us by your presence in our city. Please allow me to present you with a Proclamation from the City of Norcross commemorating your visit to Atlanta.”
Aggarwal read a few lines on the Proclamation, ”Baba Ramdev is from Haryana, India. He is highly regarded not only for his popularity of yoga around the globe but his passionate campaign for social and economic equality irrespective of class, creed and gender.”
Atlanta’s eminent hotelier and banker Nitin Shah presented a bouquet to Mayor Johnson. Bouquets were also presented to the Director of Atlanta Revitalization Program, Emory Morsberger, Trustee of PYP(UK) Shravan Poddar who had travelled all the way from Scotland to attend the event, President,PYP(USA) Shekhar Agrawal, and Braham Aggarwal.
Sneha Mehta assisted Mayor Johnson,Morsberger,Braham Aggarwal and Shekharji light the ceremonial ‘diya’.
Swamiji blessed Hakim Hillard who coordinated Swamiji’s reception and program at the Old

	Mayor Johnson and Nitin Shah with the Proclamation

City Council Chambers, Acharya Ved Joshi,Acharya Vedshrami,Pandit Gyan Prakash Upadhyay, Founder member of PYP,94 year old Mata Mrs.Janak Jerath and Shiv Aggarwal.
Swamiji greeted all and recited Gayatri Mantra and Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. Because of his jovial nature and humor, he had an instant rapport with the audience and all joined in chanting the mantras, to the accompaniment of flute by proficient Nagaraju from Andhra Pradesh. Atlanta’s Madhavi Dave sang a bhajan.He immediately complimented the audience for its warmth and enthusiasm, “I feel as if I am in India! Swamiji led all in singing a bhajan,’Prabhuji itni si daya kardo’.
Informing the audience about the benefits of Yoga, Baba Ramdev said, “The ultimate goal of yoga is inner enlightenment, inner transformation and self-realization. Physical postures which evolved into asanas are used to alleviate health problems, reduce stress, and make the body supple and healthy. Breathing exercises help in flow of vital energies.” He said that yoga cannot be learnt through books but practical exercises. He emphasized patience and persistence in practice, positive thinking, healthy, nutritious and balanced eating, avoiding health-endangering habits like alcoholic drinks,drugs,smoking or chewing tobacco, etc., and warned that there are no quick fixes or short cuts. It is heartening that yoga has become highly popular in the U.S. and it is now legally confirmed that it is not religious but a secular practice. Yoga is universal and open to all.
Baba Ramdev lauded U.S.for becoming a super power in a short period of about seventy years(After World War II). He said that a corruption free India also has the potential to become world’s leading nation in twenty to twenty five years. He praised the Indian community in the US for excelling in varied professions, academia, corporate world, culture etc. A mere 2.5 million Indian-Americans now have highest per capita income .He exhorted all Indians to remember swami Vivekananda’s rousing words, ’Uttishthata jagrata…’ –Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached. And make impossible possible. He said that just like Dr.Martin Luther King, he also had a dream-to see India become a leading nation and to spread yoga across the world(wide applause).
Swamiji demonstrated eight types of breathing exercises and explained benefits of each. He even encouraged the audience including

Mayor Johnson garlands Swamiji

the dignitaries to do the breathing exercises like Bhastrika and Kapalabhati .It was very amusing to see the audience trying to practice Ujjai with him.
Following the Pranayama exercises, Atlanta’s talented and versatile singers Mahuva Mukherjee and Sandeep Savla sang an uplifting Meerabai bhajan ‘Payoji maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo’ to the accompaniment of flute, drums by Anjaneya Sastry,tanpura by Ahindas.
Baba Ramdev then astounded the audience with his demonstration of various yoga positions(asanas).He began with Surya Namaskar(Sun Salutation). Then he demonstrated some basic asanas and later advanced and complex one like Nauli Kriya.The audience enjoyed it all and gave repeated applause.
Swamiji emphasized that yoga has a spiritual component too and it teaches vasudhaiva kutumbakam–which means that the whole world is one single family. All joined in singing another bhajan Bhagawan aryonko esi lagan laga de’.
Swamiji invited all to visit Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar to not only learn yoga but also train to be yoga teachers. This institution is set up for treatment, research and development in yoga, and Ayurveda as well as the manufacture of Ayurvedic medicins.It is also the home of the University of Patanjali. He urged all to subscribe to Aastha T/V Channel and practice yoga daily with him. He showed some samples of Ayurvedic products and herbal supplements like Chyavanprash( a tasty mixture of herbs and spices),amla and aloe vera juice, massage oil, hair oil, tooth powder,churnas, to the audience and requested them to either buy these medicins,books,CDs,DVDs or order online from Baba Ramdev Health Products in Global Mall, Norcross, GA.
 

Swamiji performing Yoga

He informed that Patanjali Yogpeeth has been engaged in the relief work for Uttarakhand disaster affected areas areas like Guptkashi, Rudraprayag and Joshimath etc. They have also adopted about 100 orphan kids (who lost their parents in the disaster) and stationed them in Utharkashi and admitted to schools.He requested the audience to donate generously towards these humanitarian efforts.
Swamiji and the audience engaged in a lively and informative Q& A session.
He recognized Shiv Aggarwal,volunteers from SEWA International USA,VHPA and HSS,PYP,Atlanta coordinator Nagesh Kasam, Madhavi Kasam,PYP(USA) Trustee Pratap Singh,and BS(Overseas) coordinator Bharat Somal,Sneha Mehta, Mustafa Ajmeri to name a few.  He also recognized the media,singers and musicians,photographers and TV Asia.
Three hours just flew and no one was prepared to leave! “This time I could only come to Atlanta for two days but next time I will arrange for five days at least”(Cheers and applause).
Over 350 yoga enthusiasts attended Swamiji’s Yog Shivir on Tuesday morning at the Global Mall.
For Atlanta community it was one of the most memorable evenings with Baba Ramdevji.