The 21st of June was declared as The International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Since 2015, this day has been marked with spiritual practices worldwide. Due to the Corona virus pandemic, this prestigious event was hosted online this year by several institutions.

At the Divine Life Society of S.A. Yoga Camp on Sunday, 20 June 2021, a special message on this important day was delivered by our youth. A few excerpts from this message are included below:

Sri Swami Sivananda was a unique visionary who was able to cater for modern society's spiritual and secular needs. Seeing the potential of Yoga to alleviate the imbalance and distress of life in modern society, he took Yoga from the secret realms of mysticism into practice for daily life, giving it to one and all, be it spiritual seeker, student, westerner, postman, milkman, traveller, beggar, businessman, housewife or thief. His simple yet potent practices are intended for the cultivation of virtues, the betterment of character and the development of personality and self. Sri Swami Sivananda taught a synthesis of practical Vedanta and integrated Yoga, as a means to obtain excellence in life. The Divine Master gave the world "Integral Yoga" or "the Yoga of Synthesis".

Divine Life Society of South Africa celebrated "Youth Day" via its online Home Satsang Programme on Wednesday, 16 June 2021. It proved highly successful as our youth were given the opportunity to air their views and explore various topics close to their hearts. They chose to focus on the following topics: Meditation on the Peace Series, Overcoming Fear, Social Media Effects and Management, and finally COVID and spirituality (a panel discussion). The programme included a recorded message by Sri Swami Sahajananda and the customary Bhajans & Kirtans which were melodiously sung by them.

On the momentous occasion of the 72nd Anniversary of Divine Life Society of South Africa, which was celebrated via our online Satsang programme on Saturday, 5 June 2021, we paid special tribute to our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, who founded the Society in 1949. We also offered special tribute to Pujya Swami Sahajananda who implemented the Master's instructions to the letter and showered us with love, disciplined us and guided us on the spiritual, moral and ethical aspects of life. The Society's phenomenal success in all its endeavours, is attributed to the boundless Grace of our Master, and Pujya Swamiji's steadfast loyalty and obedience to our Master.

It was on this day also that Sivananda Ghat was officially opened. We offered our deep gratitude to our Master and Pujya Swamiji on this 16th Anniversary of the official opening of our Sivananda Ghat. To date, we have completed more than 33 000 ash disposals. Pujya Swamiji has stated that Sivananda Ghat is one of the most important projects of Divine Life Society of South Africa, and we see evidence of this on a daily basis when many visit the Ghat and find solace there in their darkest hours of need.

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On Tuesday, 1 June 2021, Divine Life Society of S.A. observed via the online Satsang, our Divine Master's 97th Sannyas Anniversary. We offer gratitude to our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda for the immense Tapas that he did. Through his tremendous Tapas he was able to get all his knowledge. He passed on the benefit of his Tapas to us, said Pujya Swami Sahajananda. It also paved the way for the redemption and blossoming of countless seekers the world over.

The day commenced at 6am when devotees gathered in the comfort on their homes to pay homage to our Divine Master via the online morning programme. Akhanda Chanting commenced at 5am and continued until 5pm. Devotees were urged to join in the chanting in one or more of the hourly sessions. Our All-Souls' Day Havan was also live-streamed at 4.30pm followed by Ganga Arati & Satsang at 5.30pm.

Our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda arrived at Rishikesh, in northern India, in 1924. One day, as he was sitting on the banks of the holy Ganges after being refused food at a local alms-house, a venerable saint, Sri Swami Vishwananda, happened to cast a glance at him. Attracted by the young man's unusual spiritual aura, the saint was prompted to initiate him into the Holy Order of Sannyas then and there. The Master entered the Holy Order on June 1, 1924, as Swami Sivananda Saraswati, and settled at Swarg Ashram.