New York Diary

 UPLIFTNY25: A Day of Mental Well-Being, Music and Yoga in Central Park

Now you no longer have to travel to India to learn about spirituality, meditation, yoga – or even to taste Kathi rolls! you can get it all in New York. And on one special day, UpliftNY25,  thousands of New Yorkers had access to it all in their own favorite backyard – Central Park.

The occasion was UPLIFTNY25, a day of free yoga, meditation, music, and holistic healing. Marking both International Yoga Day and Summer Solstice, the event was presented by The Giving Back Foundation in collaboration with The Mayor’s Office of Sports, Wellness and Recreation, and the Indian Consulate in New York. Indian Consul General Binaya S. Pradhan was among the speakers at this Inaugural event celebrating International Yoga Day and Summer Solstice.

“As we gather in the spirit of mindfulness and shared purpose, may this celebration encourage us all to embrace yoga’s values in our daily lives—for personal well-being and for a more sustainable and compassionate world,” said CG Pradhan.

Indeed, people of many nations had come together to taste the benefits of yoga and spirituality and for many families it was a first introduction to these powerful tools of leading a healthy and productive life. There were free yoga mats for all participants and free lessons from expert practitioners; Aura chakra healing led by Miriam Belov, astrological predictions with celebrity astrologer Darryl Gaines Spiritual guidance on managing anxiety and stress with by Bhushan Deodhar of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living. There was also a laughing yoga session with filmmaker Tirlok Malik – and it felt good to be in the park sharing deep belly-shaking laughs with strangers in the park.

There was Live music and DJ sets by Madame Gandhi and DJ Rekha and a joyful dance session led by Daybreaker. Kiran Gandhi, professionally known as Madame Gandhi, is an American electronic music producer, drummer, artist, and activist celebrated for her uplifting, percussive electronic music and advocacy for gender liberation and personal empowerment.

DJ Rekha is a well-loved name, a producer, curator, educator, and founder of Basement Bhangra, one of NYC’s longest-running club nights. A SummerStage mainstay, DJ Rekha’s musical repertoire is rooted in South Asian music and reels diverse audiences in with international and contemporary dance music.

Daybreaker is also an amazing concept founded in 2013 by Radha Agrawal with partners Eli Clark-Davis and Timothy Patch, Daybreaker refreshingly  swaps late nights, drinks and substance for sunrise coffee socials, yoga and full send dance floors.

They say there is no free lunch – but here there was – delicious vegetarian kathi rolls – downed with cold drinks and Indian tea as families sat together in Rumsey Park and shared the wisdom of the ages and yoga moves to help them lead a healthier lifestyle. It ended in a concert jam of joyousness with Madame Gandhi. Many younger generation Indian-Americans had also joined a larger mainstream audience to share in this day of spirituality and giving.

The mastermind behind the day of summer ecstasy was Meera Gandhi, founder of The Giving Back Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mental wellness and community engagement. She had worked tirelessly with her team to bring different organizations, people and communities together for a winning and positive event.

All in all, it was a day of harmony and joy in the park, full of making new friends and understanding that compassion and kindness are what brings us all closer in a world which often seems tense and falling apart.

Learn more at https://www.thegivingbackfoundation.net/

Learn more at http://www.daybreaker.com

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