Khaleej Times

Laughter session to kick off yoga day

- Sarwat Nasir sarwat@khaleejtim­es.com

dubai — A short session on laughter yoga in the Capital will kick off the upcoming Internatio­nal Day of Yoga events that will be held across the UAE.

The Internatio­nal Day of Yoga is on June 21 and was establishe­d three years ago after India highlighte­d the importance of yoga to the United Nations. It brought together 176 countries to sign a resolution, marking the day as the official day of yoga.

The Consulate General of India in Dubai held a Press conference to announce that the public events, as part of the yoga day, will be held in Burj Khalifa Park, Zabeel Park, Sharjah Cricket Stadium and the Burhani Complex on June 20.

Thousands of residents are expected to take part in the yoga day events that will be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

India’s ambassador to the UAE, Navdeep Singh Suri, in a video message, said government officials, including Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Developmen­t, and Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, will be the special guests of a programme that marks the yoga day in Abu Dhabi.

“The spread of yoga is a very special initiative from our prime minister. It stems from a very deep belief that yoga is a remarkable contributi­on to humanity. It brings mind and body together and it was that spirit that made us take yoga to the United Nations three years back,” he said.

“In that spirit, we will begin our session in Abu Dhabi with a very special short session on laughter yoga. I hope all of us will participat­e

The spread of yoga is a very special initiative from our prime minister. It stems from a very deep belief that yoga is a remarkable contributi­on to humanity.” Navdeep Singh Suri, Indian ambassador to UAE

in that infectious release of positive energy. We’ll follow up on that with the common yoga.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a video message during the press conference, where he spoke about the health benefits of practising yoga.

“Warm greetings to yoga lovers across the world on the occasion of Internatio­nal Yoga Day. In this century, yoga has connected the entire world. Just like it connects body, mind, intellect and soul, it is now connecting the entire world together. Everyone wants to live a life that is free of stress, pain, disease, and a life full of happiness. Yoga is the only path to reach these goals.

“Yoga is a medium to realise how holistic life can be lived in a balanced way. How body, mind, thoughts and behaviour can lead to an inward journey of healthy, and pious life by practising yoga.”

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 ?? Photo by Leslie Pableo ?? Vipul, Indian consul-general in Dubai, and Ghazi Sebil Al Madani from the Dubai Sports Council announce details of the activities that will be held across the country to mark the Internatio­nal Day of Yoga, in Dubai on Sunday. The day is marked annually...
Photo by Leslie Pableo Vipul, Indian consul-general in Dubai, and Ghazi Sebil Al Madani from the Dubai Sports Council announce details of the activities that will be held across the country to mark the Internatio­nal Day of Yoga, in Dubai on Sunday. The day is marked annually...
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