President Droupadi Murmu attended Isha Yoga Center’s cultural extravaganza, Mahashivaratri in Coimbatore and said the night of Mahashivaratri signified “the end of the darkness of ignorance”.

“I feel especially blessed today,” President Murmu stated, after being greeted warmly by Sadhguru and the tens of thousands who had arrived for the ceremonies. “I feel blessed to be here on the holy occasion of Mahashivaratri in the presence of Adiyogi.”

The President referred to Lord Shiva as a “deity for all” and the night of Mahashivaratri as the “end of the darkness of ignorance,” adding that “for those in search of higher ideals of life, today is an especially significant occasion.”

Tamil Nadu Governor Ravindra Narayana Ravi and Tamil Nadu Information Technology Minister Thiru Mano Thangaraj were also present.

The President stated that the need for a balanced and compassionate life in connection with Mother Nature and all of her beloved offspring has never felt more essential than now.

Referring to Sadhguru as a “renowned Rishi of modern times,” the President said, “countless people, especially the young from India and abroad, have found in him the inspiration to make spiritual progress.”

Sadhguru stated that the Mahayoga Yagna is a sign of Isha’s commitment to providing tools and technologies of well-being to humanity, emphasising the need of bringing bodily and mental stability to individual human beings.

“In the next 24 months, we are committed to bring a simple form of Yoga to at least 2 billion people on the planet. This needs to happen for the wellbeing of humanity,” Sadhguru stated.

Describing the meaning of Aum Namah Shivaya, Sadhguru remarked “this is a fantastic geometry of sounds. If you learn to use it, it will free you from all the things that hold you back in life (and) lead you on a straight path towards inner development, blissful existence, and so that the process of life is never burdensome in your experience.”

With the iconic Adiyogi as a backdrop, a galaxy of musicians, dancers, singers, and artists took centerstage to help millions of participants—in person and virtual audiences—from all over the world stay awake and capitalise on the extraordinary planetary phenomenon that makes the night one of the most significant for spiritual seekers.

The planetary position on this night is such that there is a natural upward surge of energy in the human system, which is favourable for spiritual growth and progress, regardless of race, religion, gender, or geography.

Keeping with tradition, Isha’s homegrown music band, Sounds of Isha, collaborated with several artists throughout the night, including Ram Mirjala, Velmurugan, Kutle Khan, Mangli, Ananya Chakraborty, Meenal Jain, Nihar Shembekar, and Kannada folk singers, in a versatile rendering of music composition and genre. Mame Khan, Niladri Kumar, a company of Georgian dancers, and the Theyyam fire dancers from Kerala were all famous performers.