Celebration of International Day of Yoga-2023 in Guyana

Jun 19, 2023 News

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Kaieteur News – The High Commission of India in Guyana in collaboration with Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre organized celebrations of the 9th International Day of Yoga (IDY) in Guyana on Sunday, 17 June 2023 at the Muslim Youth Organization premises at Woolford Avenue in Georgetown.

This follows the curtain raiser Yoga events held in the last few days. The event was organized under IDY 2023 theme “Yoga For Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which very aptly symbolizes and beautifully captures India’s shared aspiration for “One Earth, One Family, and One Future.” This year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the global celebration of yoga from the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA on June 21. The entire world will come together to celebrate this special day.

The goal of International Yoga Day 2023 is to increase awareness of yoga’s all-encompassing approach to wellness. Yoga has emerged as one of the most trusted methods of improving both physical and mental health while commemorating the values of mental and physical wellness in today’s society. The day also promotes the development of a consistent meditation routine to promote mental clarity and self-awareness, which are crucial for thriving in a stress-free environment. It encourages mental, emotional, and spiritual harmony and places emphasis on the necessity of balance in our hectic, contemporary lives. Yoga promotes stress reduction, mindfulness, and general health and vitality.

Honorable Sonia Parag, Minister of Public Service, resident Ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives from media, members of many socio-cultural organizations, students from various Universities and schools graced the occasion.

Hon. Minister Sonia Parag, in her capacity as the Chief Guest representing HE President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, spoke on the importance of Yoga, its philosophy and extolled the positive and healing effects of Yoga. She stated that Yoga and Indian culture are deep-rooted in Guyana and commended the efforts of the Indian High Commission to hold regular Yoga events which would help to spread it far and wide all over Guyana.

High Commissioner, Dr. KJ Srinivasa, in his remarks detailed the various Yoga events being conducted in India and across the world by the Government of India and Indian Embassies abroad, including the primary event being led by Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to celebrate the 9th IDY 2023.

Dr. Srinivasa also gave details of how at least 250 million people are anticipated to attend this year’s International Day of Yoga celebration in India and across the world and details about some innovative initiatives like Ocean Ring of Yoga (Nine ports around the world will host Indian naval ships that will take part in Yoga Day celebrations from the Arctic to the Antarctic), Yoga Bharatmala (chain of yoga demonstration will be performed in unison by the Indian Armed Forces), and Har Aangan Yoga (Yoga in every courtyard/backyard).

The High Commissioner invited all participants to join future Yoga events being organized by the High Commission in Berbice, Essequibo and those with the GPF and GDF later this month. The High Commissioner especially underlined the efforts of the High Commission to target inclusion of youth in the Yoga programme so that younger Guyanese could benefit from this traditional Indian science of well-being. High Commissioner also extended his best wishes on the Father’s Day and urged all to continue practice and also encourage their family and friends to benefit from Yoga regularly to achieve physical, mental and spiritual well-being. He also mentioned the Yoga Day celebrations held by the High Commission of India in Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts & Nevis and Anguilla which were attended by dignitaries and sizeable number of Yoga enthusiasts.

This was followed by performance of Asanas based on Common Yoga Protocol by all the invitees present at the event under the guidance of the SVCC yoga instructor Mr Mohit Maan.
Yoga volunteers and those who performed 108 Suryanamaskar poses – all hailing from Guyana were also felicitated by the High Commission during the event.
This year’s IDY event attracted over 200 enthusiastic Yoga participants. The event was live streamed on the social media accounts of the High Commission and SVCC to maximize the Yoga outreach.

Yoga, a gift of India to Mankind and an intrinsic part of Indian tradition and culture for holistic living, has transcended the barrier of race, religion and culture to become a global health movement. Yoga is essentially a mental and physical discipline based on an extremely subtle science which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. It has been the endeavour of the Government of India under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to promote and propagate Yoga globally so that the whole world could benefit from this traditional Indian science of mental and physical well-being.

Towards this end, due to Government of India efforts United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by 177 member nations of the UNGA to unanimously proclaim 21st June, which is also the Summer Solstice (the longest day in the northern-hemisphere), as the International Day of Yoga since 2015 and has special significance in many parts of the world.

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• Dr. KJ Srinivasa, International Day of Yoga, Minister Sonia Parag, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, the High Commission of India to Guyana

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