Sandiso Phaliso
HUNDREDS of thousands of yoga lovers throughout the world are all set to fill schools, temples, tents and top tourists spots across the globe this weekend to commemorate the second International Day of Yoga.
Yoga is being celebrated by all the member states of the UN, but as June 21 this year will be a weekday, the Yoga event is being observed across the world Saturday and Sunday.
After the success of last year’s event, the Indian Consulate in Cape Town said the nation will be hosting bigger gatherings in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
The consulate is inviting Capetonians to bring a mat and join yoga lovers during the celebrations at the Samaj Centre in Gatesville tomorrow and at the V&A Waterfront on Sunday.
Two years ago, the UN General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.
The declaration came after a call for such aday by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an address to the assembly in September 2014. “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition,” said Modi at the time.
Rashmi Rawat, the vice-consul in the India Consulate in South Africa, said that preparatory to this event, several organisations such as the Art of Living, Isha Foundation and Ananda Kutir Ashram had been conducting programmes to inform the general public about the benefits of yoga, and encouraging them to participate in this event.
“People are being encouraged to wear comfortable clothing, which will enable them to go through the 25 yogic asanas that form a part of the Common Yoga Protocol that is being done all across the world,” said Rawat.
“People would be well advised to prepare for low temperatures and dress accordingly.”
Art of Living spokesperson, Gerlinde Vassen, said: “In a time where the world is divided along nationality, gender, religion and many other factors, it is a miracle to see how this day unites us along our common human quests for good health and inner peace.”
Yoga is something that can unite people across the globe, across nations and across religious divides, said Vassen.
“Everyone can come together with the spirit of togetherness.
“Yoga is not just about physical postures or exercises. It is a state of mind where you have a sense of belonging and responsibility for the whole planet, and a sense of connectivity and harmony.”
“On the whole, it’s a holistic approach to health and well-being,” said Vassen.