Yoga Day takes on global hue
Foreign tourists join celebrations in PM’s constituency Varanasi and in Lucknow
VARANASI: The International Yoga Day celebrations in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took a global hue on Wednesday as foreign tourists joined local residents at an event organised at Sampurnanand sports stadium in Sigra.
Most of the foreigners were aware about the benefits of yoga as they had read about it online.
Kylie from Canada has been practising yoga for last few years. “Yoga is very good for health. I do ‘pranayam’ and ‘asanas’. I read about yoga online. There is plenty of material about yoga on the internet,” she said.
“Performing yoga with thousands of people is entirely a different experience,” Kylie added.
Peter, also from Canada, found the mass yoga session interesting. “Performing yoga in Banaras, that too with a large number of people, is a unique experience. Yoga keeps me energised,” he said.
“I feel that the iconic ghats of Varanasi are perfect for yoga. The ghats are very beautiful and I enjoy sitting on the stairs and watching the Ganga river flow,” Peter said.
Emma, a native of England, said she practised yoga for beauty and health. “Yoga keeps mind and body healthy. I perform yoga ‘asanas’ almost daily. I have read many books on it,” she said.
Lowe’s from Chile, who was attending a session for the first time, said yoga ‘asanas’ were very tough and required concentration. “I will try to learn and perform the ‘asanas’ as yoga keeps mind, body and thoughts in sync,” she said.
Meanwhile, union minister of state for railways Manoj Sinha performed yoga at Sarnath.
Rural women performed yoga under the guidance of Pushpanjali Sharma in Harhuwa.
Senior officials including divisional commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokarn and district magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra also performed yoga.
I feel that the iconic ghats of Varanasi are perfect for yoga...I enjoy sitting on the stairs and watching the Ganga flow. PETER, tourist from Canada