9.30 am: Isha Home School and Samskriti children, along with hundreds of residents, brahmacharies, and guests, stood along the pathway in front of Shoonya Cottage with lotus flowers and smiley faces, waiting for Sadhguru.

The grand welcome included the ashram residents and brahmacharies demonstrating Kalaripayattu. It featured “vaal,” a demonstration with swords, between two of Isha’s Kalari Masters.

Sadhguru then proceeded to the soon to be constructed Isha Arogya Hospital. It will offer Allopathy, Siddha, Ayurveda, and Yoga and Naturopathy systems of treatment under one roof.

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Before Sadhguru left, Isha Vidhya children presented him with a bouquet of flowers that they had made themselves.

12 pm: The silent workers of the ashram – the labor force or “Sevadhars” – were acknowledged and served lunch by residents and brahmacharies. They also received a new set of clothes.

5:00 pm: Drums, cymbals, and chants by Isha Samskriti welcomed Sadhguru into Spanda Hall for the evening cultural programs.

Volunteers from Chennai in action. After doing 300 street plays all over the city to spread the word for the January mega program, these enthused volunteers performed their witty skit which left the audience in splits!

The fire within was mirrored by the fire outside. Sticks whirled and clashed in a Kalaripayattu demonstration of “vadi,” which literally means, “using sticks as the weapon.” Next came a “pot-breaking” demonstration: a swirl of leaping limbs… a momentous crack… and a shower of pretty yellow petals trickled poetically to the ground.

Isha Home School students sang an Arabic song – an echo of the Sufi chants of the past – accompanied by a merry melody from Sounds of Isha. Students of IHS also presented a poem, written by one of the students for Sadhguru.

Nimble feet and bright smiles light up the stage. Samskriti children perform “Kolattam,” a traditional harvest dance from rural Tamil Nadu.

Sadhguru took us back 24 years, detailing his first Isha Yoga program in Hyderabad and his search for the Velliangiri Hills much later. He also spoke of the future of Isha, and the dire need to make at least “one drop of spirituality” available to every individual, before it is too late. In today’s world, people are turning towards destructive ways of living in search of heightened experiences. He spoke of the urgent need to make meditation and spiritual process available to everyone, in every street corner.