You must know that we Enjoyed a Blessed Flag Raising Ceremony at Burlington City Hall for Sahaja Yoga Meditation Day – Proclaimed on Friday, June 20, 2025
Our Flag celebrating 20 years of Sahaja Yoga Meditation existence in Burlington was printed in the “Home of Nirmala”
Watch this video-clip that captures the Great feeling of Collective Joy in the Heart of Burlington
Let’s hear Michael: who was interviewed ad-hoc on the Street just before the Event
The days before were cold and dark and the weather prognostic for our Sahaja Yoga Meditation Day was not at all optimistic, especially for the morning when we supposed to celebrate our 20 years of dynamic service for the Burlington Community.
Our team of volunteers from Halton Sahaja Yoga Meditation Network have done all the preparations with commendable joy and surrender. After the Burlington weekly class on Wednesday – serendipitously offered at the Orchard Hub since we came up in 2023 with the 100 Seeds of Joy community initiative – , everyone willing to help, helped in the most creative way!
Let us share a few photos with the preparations, the joy and harmony among our team of volunteers is palpable!
We designed the Flag in March closer to the founder of Sahaja Yoga Meditation – Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi’s birthday – on March 21st. The respect for our foundation is found even in the details of this journey that led to our 20 year Celebration.,
Right after we invited our American friends to join Halton’s 5-day New Beginnings Sahaja Yoga Meditation Marathon we ended up having our flag printed in the USA. It happened completely unplanned, and in a place that literally means “the home of Nirmala”.
Such a great omen!.
Again the subtler connection between Canada and the USA sister countries was revealed with this 100 Seeds of Joy project.
Let’s take the steps together along the Journey of Preparations for Sahaja Yoga Meditation Day
Since its arrival to Canada in April we made the Flag a beloved Burlington Collective Property
We had so many Cool Kids and Parents events this spring and many children (from all species!) had a chance to be curious about it and enjoy it very much.
We shared the various symbols incorporated in it; then, in the week leading to the Flag Raising Ceremony the vision of how to enhance it and make it our own, truly came together during that week’s free 100 Seeds of Joy events in Burlington,
For instance the arch representing the joyful protection and support for mental health that Sahaja Yoga Meditation Network of volunteers is providing in our Halton community; also the seeds of joy cultivated around blossom and connect with each other beautifying our community with cultural diversity; the flowers resemble the chakras from the yoga system, each energy center is another colourful flower with its own important role and qualities necessary for one’s wellness.
There are many connections!
The painted rocks were donated by the children, parents and grandparents that participated in our Cool Kids Class offered at the Burlington Library that week – An amazingly Joyful Event!
The Flag Raising Ceremony started at 10am on Friday June 20, 2025 in front of the City Hall
Friends and community partners were telling us the day before that they pray and keep their fingers crossed for us to have a decent weather; one can hear the lack of hope in their voice. The morning was still dark and cloudy, it looked really unhappy when we left our home around 8am.
I’ll tell you a secret: earlier that day, in my morning meditation, I prayed to the Creator to show support for this event and make a miracle that everyone deserved: to have a sunny day.
It seems that the Connection worked: the moment we started preparing the arch in the City Hall, the clouds seemed to stir up with quick and timid glimpses of sunrays breaking through.
Our Dutch friend and guest musician, Kenny Clarys was asked by Paul, to open the event with his violin tunes.
Such a beautiful moment, you have to watch the following video-clip:
(video-clip 1) Musical Moment that Opened the Flag Raising Ceremony marking 20-year Anniversary for Sahaja Yoga Meditation in Burlington
(video-clip 2) Ioana Opened the Event by Sharing the Beginnings for Sahaja Yoga Meditation in Burlington and Introducing the Special Guests that wanted to make an Address on behalf of the Canadian Government, Provincial Government and the Municipality
The Cool Breeze is the One that brought us Together – We all witnessed its “move” towards “We”
(video-clip 3) MPP Effie is Praising and recognizing our Volunteers from 100 Seeds of Joy initiative on behalf of the Provincial Government and the Premier for Halton SYM’s 20 years of working for their beloved community
Watch the Address offered by the Member of the Parliament representing Oakville North Burlington : Effie T., speaking about SYMN, Mother Earth, Something Profound and Healing
Enjoy a few more photos marking the moments of Joy and Sharing, including the home-baked goodies prepared by Mama Carmela for our 20 year Celebration that day
Also, spontaneously Ana-Bianca started interviewing people on the street, some were among the first ones that joined the FREE Sahaja Yoga Meditation classes years ago (like Norma and Wendy); while other joined much more recently and came from work to help with the set-up
The House of Commons CANADA was also represented and we are grateful that Kassandra K. joined our Flag Raising Ceremony to Congratulate our team for 20 years of service for mental health and wellbeing in Burlington!
(video-clip 3) Beautiful Speech with Congrats coming from the Member of the Canadian Parliament recognizing our SYMN team’s work in the community for the last 20 years
(video-clip 4) Inspiring Speech with Congrats coming from the City Councilor that also read the Proclamation for Sahaja Yoga Meditation Day on behalf of the Mayor of Burlington
We had such great moments of beautiful collectivity – people took off from work to be here, two busy Members of the Parliament made time in their busy schedule to join us, also two City Council members; we all experienced how the Elements seemed to give us a hand in improving the ceremony; the Wind brought everyone closer together, the Sun was the strongest and warmest during our Collective Meditation; there were two reporters that joined in and enjoyed interviewing us and posted beautiful articles in the Burlington Today’s Local News.
Everyone was smiling!! Everyone was helping!! Everyone was enjoying everything and together!
We are grateful for this amazing 20-year long Journey that offered us so much joy and helped us to become wiser and led us to the 100 Seeds of Joy community initiative that we love and is loved across all Halton region and beyond.!
Notes in Newspaper and Posters we used in the early years of SYM in Burlington
More glimpses of Sahaja Yoga Meditation presence Today in Burlington
Enjoy this RECAP video-clip that Summarizes the Event in a Fun Quick Thank You
We hope you’ve enjoyed it! Our Musicians visiting from the Netherlands were so impressed and it is nice to see them husband and wife enjoying Burlington together!
Did you know?! Marie-Joelle came 10 years ago for our 10th anniversary of Sahaja Yoga Meditation and in the same place of City Hall’s plaza she performed then.
Kenny, her husband participated in our 20th anniversary in the same spot!
Next 9 Events in 5 Days celebrating 20 years of Sahaja Yoga Meditation in Burlington:
The FREE New Beginnings 2025 – Sahaja Yoga Meditation Marathon is ON!
Browse the following Four Related Articles:
(1) 286 Seeds of Joy singing and enjoying the Celtic Rhythms and Earth Meditation
(2) In the News: Burlington’s Beginnings with Sahaja Yoga Meditation 20 years ago!
(3) Sahaja Yoga Meditation Day on Friday June 20, 2025: Burlington City Proclamation
(4) Young Cultivator of Joy receives the Community Spirit Award 2025
Enjoy Burlington incredible Sunset coloring the Lake Ontario’s waters:
We hope you’ve enjoyed it. Drop a comment if you wish.
What profound speeches from prominent leaders on our community! It was a victorious day celebrating the flag raising for Sahaja Yoga Meditation Network on a glorious day in Burlington. So many wonderful aspects to the entire Festival of New Beginnings. Keep sharing awesome classes to our community. Grateful we found each other.
Congratulations on the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Sahaja Yoga meditation in Burlington! I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in some SYMN classes over the years and the existence of this Halton Sahaja Yoga meditation website which helped tremendously in my spiritual journey.
What a proud and joyous moment it was when the flag was being raised! The community leaders along with musicians and Sahaja yogis coming together as one while some of us were singing Kundalini song. An forgettable moment indeed. Enjoyed this article which pretty much covered the highlight of the whole event. Thank you.
Congratulations Ioana and SY Meditation Network Team! You are working so much and with so much generosity for the community and for the World!
Thank you from the deepest of my Heart!
You are a model team for all of us!
What a great start opening of Sahaja Yoga marathon for 20 years celebration in Burlington. I wish i was there to witness the sense of community and joy. So so many connections, a clear serendipity!
Wonderful, wonderful. No words can express what I feel!
Congratulatiosn, such dynamism, such connections and integration within the community. What you have achieved==WOW. Congratulations!!
Seeing the flag being raised and hearing the singing very deepely touched me.
Thank you very, very much.
Congratulations to the authorities who have recognized the benefits of Sahaja Yoga and appreciated the positive transformation of those who have followed this unique meditation system. And congratulations to those in the Sahaja Yoga community who have known how to promote all their events in Burlington and the surrounding area, all free, in such a simple, joyful and accessible way to the present society.
Very joyous to witness.
Congratulations!! Witnessed. enjoyed every amazing videos ..hoisting of Sahajyog flag and various events . Very joyful vibrative moment for blessed Burlington community and Sahaj Community.
I felt waves of joy while watching the videos. Congratulations! Hard work is always rewarded. Jai Shri Mataji!
Comment received via email from a dear French friend who is also a respected historian and writer:
“Merci Ioana pour tes partages et cette célébration des 20 années de Sahaja Yoga à Burlington nous donne beaucoup de joie ! Gwen”
From Adina, Romania:
” Minunate vești primim mereu de la Ioana și familia Sahaj din Burlington. Pentru mine este exemplul perfect de cum se poate răspândi Sahaja Yoga într-o comunitate, despre cum poți clădi și câștiga respectul și prețuirea oamenilor, și despre cum poți aduce mesajul Mamei pentru toți, într-o manieră frumoasă, inspirată, creativă, și plină de diplomație și tact. Toată admirația mea și toate felicitările! Mulțumim Ioana!”