Modi leads Yoga Day events from India
IN-PERSON MASS SESSIONS HELD GLOBALLY AFTER TWO YEARS
YOGA enthusiasts marked the International day of Yoga on Tuesday (21) by taking part in mass sessions around the world.
This year’s event, themed, ‘Yoga for Humanity’, saw activities return to an in-person format after over two years following the pandemic. The Indian High Commission in London led the celebrations with community events, culminating in an event on at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, in Neasden, north London.
Other yoga sessions were held at Trafalgar Square, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the Tower of London, which were organised by the Nehru Centre in London.
“This year the theme is Yoga for Humanity. As our prime minister has said, Yoga is not just about exercise, it’s a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, with the world and with nature,” said Indian High Commissioner to the UK Gaitri Issar Kumar.
Meanwhile, in India, prime minister Narendra Modi performed yoga along with thousands of participants at Mysuru Palace in Karnataka. Modi said the ancient practice had the power to bring people together and unite communities, especially in India.
“The mass yoga at iconic places will bind together India’s past, vastness and diversity,” Modi said. “Yoga brings peace for us, the peace from yoga is not only for individuals, yoga brings peace to our society, nation, the world and the universe.
“When we become aware of ourselves and our world, we begin to spot the things that need to be changed both in ourselves and in the world. They may be individual problems or global problems like climate change and international conflicts.
“Yoga today is not just a part of life, but is becoming the way of life, and it should not be limited to any particular time or place.”
The embassy of India in The Hague, Netherlands, celebrated with an event that attracted more than 500 yoga enthusiasts.
In Kathmandu, Nepal prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said yoga should be made a part of daily life as he joined 600 people for a session at the Indian embassy.
Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Coordinator to China, demonstrated yoga exercises to Chinese children in his office in Beijing.
In Colombo, Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and several parliamentarians participated in the yoga day celebrations. “8th #InternationalDayofYoga celebrations in #Colombo were held today morning in the gracious presence of H.E PM @RW_UNP, Hon’ble Ministers and Parliamentarians. Introducing the crowd to basic asanas, breathing exercises and meditation, the rejuvenating session,” the Indian High Commission tweeted.
The Indian High Commission in Canberra celebrated the day at the iconic location of ‘the Gabba’, the Brisbane Cricket Ground.
Australia’s deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, who is visiting India posted a picture on Twitter while doing Yoga.
The India high commission in Dhaka tweeted: “A healthy, holistic #YogaDay to everyone May all be happy & free from disease especially in covid era Celebrate #InternationalDayofYoga, in person, 1st time since 2019 in Dhaka.”
The Indian High Commission in Islamabad celebrated the day last Sunday (19). “Underscoring message of yoga for humanity, High Commission of India @IndiainPakistan celebrated International Day of Yoga #IDY2022 today with enthusiasts from diplomatic corps and other eminent personalities,” it tweeted.