Yoga enthusiasts across the globe celebrate International Day of Yoga amid COVID-19 crisis

Washington/Beijing, June 21

Yoga fanatics from throughout the globe on Sunday bent and stretched to carry out varied asanas at a number of occasions, with a few of them becoming a member of digital projection and reside on-line yoga classes because of the coronavirus pandemic, to mark the sixth International Day of Yoga.

Dressed in T-shirts and trousers, folks, a few of them carrying face masks, stretched themselves in varied postures at yoga occasions held within the US, China, the UK, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and several other different international locations to have a good time the event.

In Washington, Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu joined embassy officers and several other Hollywood stars to have a good time Yoga Day, themed “Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family” this yr because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are not able to celebrate with a larger number of yoga enthusiasts due to the prevailing situation. Thanks to the technology, we are connected with thousands of people online from across the US,” Sandhu mentioned.

“Yoga is a unifying force, true to its literal meaning. People all around the world, transcending nationalities and cultures, have recognized the immense benefits of Yoga. They have made it a part of their everyday lives,” he mentioned.

In China, the Yoga Day was a low-key affair owing to the coronavirus disaster and the navy standoff on the Line of Actual Control.

This yr, the primary occasion was held on the India House in Beijing the place Indian Ambassador Vikram Misri led the celebration, with the participation of Indian, overseas diplomats and their households.

Misri mentioned this yr’s International Yoga Day was “full of challenges”.

“Even with the challenges we faced, we had thought of an event slightly at a larger scale but with the recent outbreak of coronavirus once again in Beijing, we have to scale down our plans to make it a small event,” he mentioned.

“Nevertheless, when the pictures of this goes home there will be a small surprise for many of our friends in India who see that we actually managed to come out and hold the IYD outdoors not simply with our families but also friends who are also our extended family,” Misri added.

“In these times the value of yoga is much more than ever. The stresses and strains that are upon us in the era of COVID-19 can perhaps be addressed very well by yogic technique,” he mentioned.

In Britain, a digital projection and a collection of webinars and reside on-line yoga classes marked the Yoga Day on Sunday.

The Indian High Commission in London organised a digital projection reflecting the traditional Indian follow and its many advantages on the Westfield Stratford City buying centre in east London.

It was preceded by a web based webinar titled “Ghar Ghar Se Yoga” coordinated by the Nehru Centre in London, in gentle of the social distancing norms in place that forestall a congregational side of the yoga classes.

“Yoga is an invaluable ancient Indian practice with numerous benefits to both physical and mental health,” mentioned P N Ranjit Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).

“Given the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic including restrictions on the movement of people and a slowdown in economic activity, the benefits offered by Yoga have become especially important for physical and mental wellbeing. Of particular importance are its proven benefits on general health and immunity enhancement, along with its globally accepted role as a stress buster,” he mentioned.

Indian Ambassador to Turkey Sanjay Panda tweeted a video of himself and his spouse Minati Panda performing completely different yoga asanas throughout the Indian Embassy compound.

“Pandas fight Pandemic with #Yoga!!! Celebrating #YogaDay “Yoga for health; Yoga at home” whereas on quarantine at India House in Ankara #MyLifeMyYoga,” he tweeted.

In Pakistan, the members of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad practised yoga asanas within the premises of its sprawling constructing positioned within the capital metropolis.

“The members of the High Commission of India in Pakistan enthusiastically participated in the #Internationalyogaday2020 celebrations. #YogaAtHome and #YogawithFamily for a healthy body and a sound mind!” it mentioned in a tweet.

In Sri Lanka, India’s High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of Sri Lanka Army Lt Gen Shavendra Silva and different dignitaries participated within the Yoga Day occasion held at SriLanka Army Headquarters in Colombo.

“Marking this International Day of Yoga with social distancing & health protocols! The High Commission organised a special yoga session for SL officers & soldiers in collaboration with #SriLanka Army. Armed forces personnel 4m Panagoda & Trincomalee joined the session online #YogaDay,” the mission mentioned in a tweet.

In Kabul, Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Vinay Kumar emphasised on the significance of practising yoga for higher dwelling and realising the unity of human beings with the Nature which sustains all of the lives on this planet.

The Indian mission in Kabul tweeted mask-wearing folks performing yoga on the Embassy on the theme “Yoga at Home”. The in-house occasion was telecast on-line for others to do the yoga from their properties.

The Yoga Day was additionally celebrated in Bangladesh, the place a 7-minute on-line session on Yoga was completed so that folks can follow it from house, amid the coronavirus disaster within the nation.

June 21, the Northern Hemisphere’s longest day, is widely known because the International Yoga Day worldwide after the United Nations General Assembly adopted in 2014 a proposal mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI