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Metrowest YMCA to host global meditation gathering

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR

A group of Hopkinton residents are organizing an event at the Metrowest YMCA this weekend to participate in World Meditation Day.

Resident Kritika Balasubramanian, a volunteer with the Art of Living Foundation, is teaming up with other local members of the organization to run the event, which takes place Sundaay.

“We are teachers and volunteers in this town who are trained, and we are getting together to put out this event,” explained Balasubramanian.

The Art of Living Foundation — an international, humanitarian nonprofit — is holding the meditation event to commemorate the United Nations’ World Meditation Day proclamation. The proclamation was adopted by the U.N. in 2024 and sets the annual event for Dec. 21.

Balasubramanian said that last year’s gathering, which mostly was held virtually, had 8.5 million participants across over 180 countries. This year, she and other Art of Living volunteers in the community wanted to hold an in-person session in Hopkinton.

“There’s power to meditation, and if there’s a group, there’s more power together,” said Balasubramanian.

According to Balasubramanian, over 80 people have signed up to participate this weekend. Registration is free and remains open until Saturday. She encouraged residents and community leaders to come out and take part in the global meditation. She added that several other towns, including Shrewsbury and Woburn, are participating as well.

Art of Living does not have a local chapter; the volunteers running Sunday’s event came together by chance, Balasubramanian explained.

“We’re all associated with meditation,” she said. “We’re here by our choice and [we] came together.”

Added Balasubramanian: “We share the same passion for spreading peace and physical and mental well-being.”

— NICK SCHOFIELD

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Photo of the Day

Crews conduct work on a streetlight at the intersection of Main Street and Grove Street on Thursday morning.

PHOTO/NICK SCHOFIELD