Thousands to celebrate third International Yoga Day
Thousands of people will participate in the 3rd International Yoga Day, which will be held across 9 cities and provinces nationwide between 17 June and 2 July.
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| A mass yoga performance to celebrate the 2nd International Yoga Day in Da Nang last year. (Photo: Internet) |
The event is part of a series of activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between Viet Nam and India.
People will join in a mass yoga performance in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Vinh Phuc, Nghe An, Khanh Hoa, Long An, Dong Nai and Can Tho. The event is being hosted by the Indian Embassy along with Bao Viet Life Corporation, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism and local authorities.
Indian Ambassador to Viet Nam Parvathaneni Harish expressed his appreciation at the large number of Vietnamese people who took part in the event last year. “I was surprised at the huge, nationwide response by Vietnamese people, who, I see, have a passion for yoga and practise it daily,” he said. “Most of these performances were early in the morning, at 5.00 - 5.30am, and thousands of people joined in. In my 27 years as a diplomat serving in various countries, I have found this country’s enthusiasm is unparalleled.”
Smita Pant, Consul General of India, said that yoga expressed the unity between people and nature.
Speaking at the press conference held on Tuesday, Ngo Thi Thanh Tam, a representative of Bao Viet Life Corporation, which is co-hosting the event, said: “We consider human life an invaluable property. We are honoured to co-ordinate with the Indian Embassy and other agencies in creating a chance for yoga practitioners in Viet Nam to express their love for the art, to inspire others, and enhance people’s awareness in improving health and nurturing peace in their minds so as to build a healthy community with bright minds.”
On 11 December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 69/131 declared 21 June as International Day of Yoga. The declaration came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address to the UN General Assembly on 27 September 2014, said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.”
(Source: VNS)