Health

Commonwealth, Global Partners Celebrate International Yoga Day In UK

The proposal of marking International Yoga Day was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly

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The Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, said that Yoga fosters physical and mental well-being holistically, transcending boundaries and uniting people around the world.

London: The Commonwealth Secretariat, in collaboration with the Indian High Commission in the UK and Heartfulness Worldwide, held a special yoga session at Marlborough House to celebrate the 10th International Day of Yoga on Saturday (June 22). Members of the diplomatic community participated in the yoga session organised at Marlborough House on Saturday. In a press release, The Commonwealth said, “The event, which was attended by members of the diplomatic community is a part of the global Yoga 4 Unity initiative, which highlights the benefits of Yoga in promoting physical and mental well-being.”

Also Read: International Yoga Day 2024: From Times Square To Patong Beach, The World Celebrates Yoga

The opening session of the event featured a video message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his video message, PM Modi said,

The world is looking at Yoga as a powerful agent of global good. Yoga helps us realize that our welfare is related to the welfare of the world around us.

After the opening session, attendees participated in a yoga and meditation session, guided by experienced instructors. Attendees witnessed an exhibition titled “A History of Yoga and its Benefits,” which demonstrated the rich heritage of Yoga, according to The Commonwealth press release.

In her video message, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC said that yoga offers people a special avenue for self-examination and the pursuit of a “healthier and more balanced life.”

Patricia Scotland KC said,

Our work is full of challenges, and none of us can pour from an empty cup. Yoga offers us a special avenue for self-examination and the pursuit of a healthier, more balanced life. This ancient tradition serves as a profound tool for enhancing mental and physical health for people all over the world, which is vital for our ongoing efforts to combat non-communicable diseases.

Also Read: Indian Embassy Celebrates International Yoga Day In Washington

The Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, said that Yoga fosters physical and mental well-being holistically, transcending boundaries and uniting people around the world.

Doraiswami said,

Yoga fosters physical and mental well-being holistically, transcending boundaries and uniting people worldwide. The theme for this 10th edition of International Yoga Day is ‘Yoga for self and society’, which underscores the importance of yoga in promoting global health and universal harmony. Through yoga, we can jointly contribute to a more peaceful, connected and sustainable world.

Kamlesh D Patel (Daaji) of Heartfulness Worldwide said,

Yoga is more than an exercise; it is a complete science that transforms us and gives us confidence, clarity of mind, and happiness. I am very happy to know that all of you have gathered at the Commonwealth Headquarters, Marlborough House, to celebrate the 10th International Day of Yoga, the first time this has been celebrated with the Commonwealth.

The 10th International Day of Yoga coincides with the Commonwealth Year of Youth, stressing the importance of health and development among young people. The Commonwealth Secretariat, by promoting practices like Yoga aims to foster resilience, reduce anxiety, and support the overall well-being of over 1.5 billion youth across the member states.

Namibia’s High Commissioner to the UK, Linda Scott, said,

Yoga, which has its origins in India more than 5000 years ago, is today being shared with the Commonwealth family as a great health practice to incorporate into all our daily lives. If you are not a regular yoga practitioner, I hope today’s event kindles your interest.

Also Read: International Yoga Day: PM Modi Leads Celebrations In Srinagar, Union Ministers Follow

In a press release, The Commonwealth said,

As the Commonwealth prepares for the upcoming Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Paris this July, today’s event along with initiatives like the Commonwealth Moves programme underscores its dedication to advancing sports and physical activities as crucial elements of well-being.

In a post on X, the Indian High Commission in the UK stated,

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Yoga on June 21. In December 2014, the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by India to celebrate the International Day of Yoga on June 21 which is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly. Since 2015, the International Day of Yoga has been celebrated across the globe, enhancing awareness about the multifaceted benefits of Yoga.

PM Modi led celebrations of the 10th International Day of Yoga at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar on Friday.

Since 2015, PM Modi has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Also Read: Norway’s Envoy Calls Yoga India’s “Greatest Gift” To The World

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ populationindigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (WaterSanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollutionwaste managementplastic banmanual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.

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