Ananda Village Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Yogananda's World Brotherhood Colonies

Ananda Village in Northern California will celebrate its 40th year as a successful intentional spiritual community over the July 4th weekend with a series of uplifting public events. Ananda Village was the first Ananda World Brotherhood Colony, as envisioned by Paramhansa Yogananda. Ananda Village is now one of 7 Ananda World Brotherhood Colonies including in Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Sacramento and Mountain View, CA; Assisi, Italy; and Pune, India.

Nevada City, CA (PRWEB) June 22, 2009 -- Over a long July 4th weekend, Ananda Village will host a series of joyful and informative public programs and events to commemorate 40 years of success as an intentional spiritual community. The public is welcome to participate in a class with Ananda's founder, Swami Kriyananda (http://www.ananda.org/ananda/kriyananda/index.html); a World Brotherhood Communities Fair, an outdoor evening concert of beautiful music performed by the World Brotherhood Choir, a new video about World Brotherhood Colonies worldwide, a picnic and a world kirtan on the Village Green, tours of Ananda Village and delicious vegetarian meals at The Expanding Light Retreat (http://expandinglight.org). Sunday morning all are welcome to join our deeply inspiring Vedic Fire Ceremony, Purification, Sunday Service and Festival of Light.

The World Brotherhood Communities Fair will feature:

*Comments from Swami Kriyananda

*Nature Walks led by staff of The Sharing Nature Foundation

*10 informative displays about aspects of this worldwide movement including

** Ananda Yoga

** Spiritual Retreats - Come & Stay!

** Education for Life / Living Wisdom Schools / Ananda University

** Permaculture & sustainability at Ananda Village

** Crystal Clarity Publishing

** Meditation & Kriya Yoga

** Family Ministry

** Spanish Ministry

** Healing Prayer Ministry

July 4th commemorates the birth of our nation, the first country founded on a principle: religious freedom. So too, it marks the founding of Ananda Village, based on the principle of spiritual freedom. Both represent the emergence of a new age defined by a unified vision of harmony - with nature, with our fellow man, and with God. All are invited to join in this special weekend.

The media is most welcome. Swami Kriyananda will be available for interviews over this summer.

Some accommodations including tenting are still available within Ananda Village at The Expanding Light Retreat. Call 1-800-346-5350.

Paramhansa Yogananda (http://www.ananda.org/ananda/yogananda.html) is the great Guru who authored "Autobiography of a Yogi". He was the first yoga master to reside in the west. Yogananda's teachings embrace the truths that underlie all the great religions. His teachings show how everyone can realize God in their daily lives as a tangible, loving reality.

Swami Kriyananda has been a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda for over 60 years. As one of Yogananda's foremost disciples he has inspired thousands all over the world. Kriyananda is a member of the prestigious Club of Budapest, where he is joined by such figures as the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Mikhail Gorbachev. Swami has lectured, taught, and written over 90 books based on Yogananda's teachings. These have sold well over 3 million copies in 30 languages.

Ananda (http://ananda.org) is a global movement based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda. People from all faiths and backgrounds are welcomed at Ananda. All are invited to participate at Ananda's temples, yoga retreats, meditation groups, and communities to experience the joy of your own being.

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