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International Yoga Festival 2025 kicks off with Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan

The International Yoga Festival remains a cornerstone event for the global yoga community

International Yoga Festival 2025 kicks off with Ganga Aarti at Parmarth Niketan

The Honourable Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami graced the inaugural event

Parmarth Niketan

The International Yoga Festival 2025 commenced on Sunday (9) at Parmarth Niketan with a sacred Ganga Aarti ceremony on the banks of the holy Ganges. Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the event, which also featured soulful kirtan performances and inspiring talks by spiritual leaders.

Inaugration Ceremony of International Yoga Day 2025Parmarth Niketan


The week-long festival, attended by participants from over 100 countries, focuses on yoga, meditation, and holistic well-being. This year’s edition emphasises mindfulness, global harmony, and the transformative power of yoga. The opening day set a serene tone for the event, which includes a diverse lineup of yoga sessions, workshops, and cultural programmes.

“This festival is a testament to India’s spiritual heritage and its role in promoting global unity,” said Chief Minister Dhami during his inaugural address.

Sacred Ganga Aarti ceremony on the banks of the holy GangesParmarth Niketan

Held annually in Rishikesh, often referred to as the yoga capital of the world, the event brings together renowned yoga masters, spiritual guides, and wellness practitioners. Parmarth Niketan, with its tranquil setting by the Ganges, provides an ideal venue for this global gathering.

The festival will run until 15 March 2025, offering attendees an opportunity to deepen their practice, connect with like-minded individuals, and experience India’s rich spiritual traditions.

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Lakshmi Mittal quits Britain for Switzerland and Dubai over inheritance tax concerns

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  • Lakshmi Mittal, worth over £15 bn, has moved his tax residence from UK to Switzerland with plans to spend most time in Dubai.
  • Inheritance tax concerns, not income tax, drove the decision of the "King of Steel" to leave after 30 years in Britain.
  • The departure marks another high-profile exit as chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares major tax rises in the coming Budget.
Lakshmi Mittal, one of Britain's wealthiest men, has ended his three-decade association with the UK, relocating his tax residence to Switzerland and planning to base himself in Dubai. The 74-year-old steel magnate, worth approximately £15.5 bn according to the Asian Rich List 2025, is the latest prominent entrepreneur to leave Britain amid Labour's tax reforms targeting the super-rich.

The Indian-born billionaire built his fortune through ArcelorMittal, the world's second-largest steelmaker, in which he and his family hold nearly 40 per cent ownership. Since arriving in London in 1995, Mittal became a prominent figure in British business, acquiring expensive properties including a £57 m mansion on Kensington Palace Gardens known as the "Taj Mittal."

An adviser familiar with Mittal's family plans told The Sunday Times that, inheritance tax was the decisive factor in the decision. "It wasn't the tax on income or capital gains that was the issue, the issue was inheritance tax."

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