Acharya Pratishtha is an Indian Yoga guru, Kathak guru, ex-diplomat, and author. She is the founding member of the Indian Classical Dance Music & Yoga institute ‘Bharat College of Performing Arts’ in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Acharyaa Pratishtha Sharma [1]LinkedIn- Acharyaa Pratishtha Sharma was born on 1 December in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
Acharya Pratishtha’s childhood picture with her mother
She did her schooling at a convent school. [2]Acharyaa Pratishtha’s Official Website From 2001 to 2003, she did BA Honours in English, Yoga & Kathak at Delhi University. [3]LinkedIn- Acharyaa Pratishtha Sharma Later, she pursued MA from Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh. She holds a diploma in Kathak from Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. She did Visharad from Bhatkhande Music Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Prabhakar from Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad. [4]Acharyaa Pratishtha’s Official Website
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Her grandfather, Pandit Bishambar Singh, was a National Awardee educationist. Her father, Pandit Bharat Bhushan, is Padma Shri Yoga guru. She has one elder brother, Divy Nidhi Sharma.
Acharya Pratishtha and her father
Acharya Pratishtha with her mother
Husband & Children
Acharya Pratishtha is married to Dheeraj Saraswat. The couple is blessed with a daughter named Devi Pratyakshaa Sharma.
Acharya Pratishtha with her husband
Acharya Pratishtha and her daughter
Career
As a Kathak Dancer
At the age of 3, she started learning Kathak, an Indian classical dance form. Later, she got a gold medal in Kathak at the National Institute of Kathak, New Delhi. She is among those Indian classical dancers who has motivated Kathak dancers through the Indian classical dance show “Nritya Naad” which has been aired thrice every day on Zee network channels. Acharya Pratishtha has helped in promoting the Indian culture through various sources like magazines, books, CDs, online videos, and TV & radio shows. She has incorporated various social issues like female foeticide, women liberation, child labour & education, and dowry in her dance acts to increase awareness among people.
Acharya Pratishtha performing Kathak
She started a dance institute named Mokshayatan Dance Foundation in 2001. She is the founder principal of the Indian classical dance, music, & yoga institute ‘Bharat College of Performing Arts’ in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. She is proficient in various Kathak moves like ‘laya,’ ‘footwork,’ ‘chakkar,’ and ‘Bhaava.’
She has performed Kathak at various national and international platforms and has brought many laurels to India. Apart from performing Kathak, she has also trained many Kathak students in India and other countries. She was once selected by the ICCR, Ministry of External Affairs to promote Kathak & Yoga in Johannesburg and Jakarta. She has trained in Kathak under Pandit Rajendra Gangani of Jaipur Gharana. Acharya Pratishtha has been a graded artist of Doordarshan and is associated with Spic Macay and IRCEN, an initiative to support the budding artists in India. She has worked with various renowned Kathak gurus such as Guru Rajendra Gangani, Guru Jaikishan Maharaj, Guru Geetanjali Lal, and Ms Aditi Mangaldas.
As a Yogini
She was inclined towards Yoga since her childhood as her father is a renowned Yoga guru. As a kid, she used to accompany her father to various Yoga seminars, camps, and tours. She then underwent professional training in Yoga under Guru Shankar Apte for almost 6 years at the Kathak Kendra in New Delhi. At the age of 20, she started working as a Yoga consultant. On 2 October 2007, she was launched as the Youngest Yogacharyaa and Mind Therapist by Zee Network and World Yoga Organisation. Her Yoga show “Jago Bharat Dhyan Yog Andolan” has been telecasted thrice a day on the TV channel Zee Jagran. Apart from Zee channels, she has appeared in yoga shows on various channels like ETV, India TV, Total TV, and Doordarshan.
Acharya Pratishtha during her yoga session
She has also performed Yoga for the ad film ‘Incredible India’ released by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Acharya Pratishtha has conducted various Yoga camps for corporates, students, the police force, and prisoners. Acharya Pratishtha has also worked as a yoga consultant at Amatrra Health Spa and Ashoka Hotel, and she has conducted Yoga sessions at ‘Mokshayatan International’ for Indian & Foreign Yoga enthusiasts. Apart from India, she has conducted various Yoga seminars in countries like Japan, South Africa, Mauritius, and China. In 2006, 2008, and 2009, she choreographed a yoga presentation for the Ministry 0f Health, Govt. of India.
As an Author
Acharya Pratishtha has penned down 5 books on Yoga and Kathak. When she was 25 years old, her first book “DIABETES, WHY Die–a-bit-ease?” was published by Mokshayatan International Yogashram. Her book “Essential Elements of Kathak” was published on 26 January 2014 by the Embassy of India, Jakarta and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
Acharya Pratishtha gifting her book to the President of India Ram Nath Kovind
She has authored articles on Yoga for various magazines like Sakhi Magazine of Jagran Group, India & Tathastu Magazine of USA. In 2016, her other book ‘Yoga for Healthy Life’ was published and released by the Minister of Ayush Shripad Naik.
Acharya Pratishtha’s book on kathak
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- Worked as Director of world’s largest Indian Culture Centre of Government of India
- Designated as yoga/kathak guru cum performer at Embassy of India, Johannesburg, and Jakarta
- Youngest Yogacharyaa & Mind Therapist by World Yoga Organisation & Zee Network in 2007
- Celebrity Judge at International Pageant “Miss India Indonesia”
- “Tejaswini Samman” Top 100 Women of India
- Recognition by Doordarshan: Award by Hon. Vice President of India
- “Queen of Kathak Yoga” an International Honor by Pulian International, China
- ‘Ayurveda Samman” by Association of Ayurvedic Physicians, Mauritius
- “Kathak Samragyi”- Kala Sangam Academy of Music & Dance
- “Dainik Jagran Sashakt Mahila Samman”- Dainik Jagran
- Scholarship from Kathak Kendra, New Delhi for the entire training period of 5 Years
- National Scholarship from Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India
Facts/Trivia
- She is an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna.
Acharya Pratishtha while praying
- Acharya Pratishtha is an avid animal lover.
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