Embassy of India

The Hague

PRESS RELEASE

June 1, 2017

3rd International Day of Yoga

To mark the third International Day of Yoga, the Embassy of India, The Hague and The Gandhi Centre, the Cultural Wing of the Embassy will be organizing an event in the Atrium, City Hall of The Hague on Sunday, June 18, 2017.

The event is open to the public, free of charge, and will also be attended by members of the diplomatic corps, Dutch, Surinami-Hindustani and Indian diaspora communities. Last year, around 650 people shared the beautiful experience of a guided group yoga session held in the tranquility of The Hague City Hall Atrium. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined 45,000 of his countrymen and women in a yoga session hosted at Capitol Complex in Chandigarh on the second International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21. Similar sessions were held in 177 other countries which attracted both beginners as well as experienced practitioners of yoga, making the first International Day of Yoga a global success.

As part of the event, a group yoga session will be held, which will be led by Mr. Amit Khanna, the Yoga Teacher at the Gandhi Centre, the Cultural Wing of the Embassy of India, The Hague. Mr. Khanna has been a Yoga expert, instructor, and therapist at Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy) in India. He has provided yoga training and therapy to more than 20,000 people in India and abroad. His guidance during the group yoga session of the International Day of Yoga 2016 in The Hague made it an unforgettable experience for both beginners as well as experienced practitioners of yoga.

Background information on the International Day of Yoga

Yoga, a 5,000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice having its origin in India, aims to transform body and mind. The United Nations recognized the universal appeal of yoga through its Resolution 69/131 which was moved by India, and co-sponsored by a record 177 countries including the Netherlands and was passed unanimously. The word ‘yoga’ which derives from Sanskrit means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. 21 June was declared as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly on 11 December 2014. The declaration came after the call for the adoption of the same by Indian Prime Minister during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014 wherein he stated: "Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. " 

The Secretary General to the United Nations stated that through the Adoption of the UN Resolution on the International Day of Yoga, “the General Assembly has recognized the holistic benefits of this timeless practice and its inherent compatibility with the principles and values of the United Nations”. He further stated: “Yoga offers a simple, accessible and inclusive means to promote physical and spiritual health and well-being. It promotes respect for one’s fellow human beings and for the planet we share. And yoga does not discriminate; to varying degrees, all people can practice, regardless of their relative strength, age or ability.”

International Day of Yoga 2017 Flyer (English)

International Day of Yoga 2017 Flyer (Dutch)

http://yoga.ayush.gov.in/