Last Friday evening, as many as 1,200 Yoga lovers from across Da Nang and neighbouring localities joined in a mass Yoga performance at the western end of the city’s Rong (Dragon) Bridge to celebrate the 4^th International Yoga Day.

Around 1,200 people practised Yoga to celebrate the 4th International Yoga Day

At the event, Yoga teachers guided participants to perform ‘surya namaskar’ (sun salutation) exercise which is officially used in the International Yoga Day.

The event was jointly held by the city’s branch of the Viet Nam-India Friendship Association, the Indian Embassy in Viet Nam, and the Bao Viet Life Insurance Corporation.

The intention was to raise public awareness about the importance of Yoga practice in daily life, to enhance their physicality and mentality, and to strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation with India.

Previously, Yoga performances had taken place in Ha Noi, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Ho Chi Minh City, Tien Giang, Kien Giang and Nha Trang with a total of over 5,000 participants.

The similar event will be held in Dong Nai Province on 15 July.

Only 55 days since a resolution was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly proclaiming 21 June as the International Day of Yoga, 177 of the 193 UN member states joined as co-sponsors of the resolution, and celebrated this activity.

It is believed that Yoga originated in India about 5,000 years ago.  In Da Nang, Yoga started to become popular in February 1996 when it was taught daily by an Indian teacher to his first practitioners on the Thanh Binh Beach.

Both children and adults can practise Yoga to improve their health

A performance by Yoga teachers

This year’s event attracted the highest-ever number of Yoga lovers in the city.