THE International Day of Yoga’s sixth edition was celebrated locally by the Embassy of India in Manila on June 21, notwithstanding “the prevailing situation caused by the pandemic.”
According to the embassy, this year’s celebrations were unique, which had “Yoga at home and Yoga with family” as the theme.
Together with the National Youth Commission of the Philippines and the Indian Cultural Association of the Philippines, with support from the Art of Living Foundation, the embassy organized an event streamed on Facebook and other digital platforms. It started with messages from the Prime Minister of India’s Shri Narendra Modi and the embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Manisha Swami. Both highlighted the importance of yoga and its international celebration. A common yoga protocol session led by Instructor Chandru Mahtani followed thereafter.
The embassy also staged a photo competition with the theme, “Let’s yoga for a healthy Pilipinas” as part of the commemorative activities.
It said that yoga remains as “the 5,000-year-old ancient scientific tradition of India, which aims to unite [the] mind, body and soul. [It] is not just a set of exercises to keep the body fit, but…a holistic way to fitness and well-being.”
“As the world battles the [current] pandemic, yoga and its practice may be useful for maintaining physical and mental well-being,” the embassy said in a statement. “Yoga, indeed, has become the need of the hour.”
Image credits: Embassy of India