'Journey of River Ganga', a divine Odissi dance performance by Sharmila Bhartari at International Yoga Festival, Rishikesh, India.

Sharmila Bhartari is a classical Odissi dancer and disciple of late Protima Bedi. Sharmila Bhartari, hailing from West Bengal, is also a theatre personality and a social worker who uses her art forms for the conservation of Indian culture and environment. Residing in Dehradun, she currently teaches performing arts – dance, drama and ballets – to various schools and groups. Bhartari’s ballets are a creative fusion of classical dance and drama with music and poetry. These ballets improvised from classical Indian dance and contemporary forms depict diverse historical and modern environmental themes in ways relevant to the present time.

Sharmila Bhartari’s dance group is called Mohini, a team of dedicated classical dancers from the fields of Odissi, Kathakali and folk dances. Mohini’s performances have been able to generate awareness in the public on various subjects related to our Indian culture, environment and heritage.

Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India organizes the annual International Yoga Festival.

The International Yoga Festival was originally a creation of Uttar Pradesh Tourism, in the days when Rishikesh was still part of Uttar Pradesh. Held at Hotel Ganga Kinare in the first week of February, the Festival ran for many years and attracted a small number of participants. In 1999, the Government of Uttar Pradesh approached Parmarth Niketan Ashram to host the Festival at the ashram. Participants were still staying at the hotels, but their classes and programs were held at Parmarth. Pujya Swami Veda Bharatiji gave inspiring discourse and led mediations. Yogasanas were taught by Yogacharya Bharat Bhushanji and his team. The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department was led by Shri Ravindra Singh, Director General Tourism, Shri B.M. Vohra, Commissioner, Garhwal and Shri R.C. Pandey, Assistant Director, Tourism. What began with a h