Celebration of 5th International Day of Yoga 2019 at the prestigious University of Birmingham

CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA, BIRMINGHAM

IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIA INSTITUTE,

UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM HOSTS

THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA

The Fifth International Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated by the Consulate General of India, Birmingham in association with India Institute of University of Birmingham on 22nd June 2019. A grand celebration was held at Staff House in the University of Birmingham campus. More than 250 Yoga enthusiasts and practitioners from West Midlands and other counties in UK converged at the venue to celebrate and practice yoga. The celebration was graced by the presence of noted personalities from in and around Birmingham. The programme commenced with the screening of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi’s message on the International Day of Yoga 2019. He observed that yoga has connected the whole world just as it connects body, mind, intellect and soul. He also encouraged all the yoga enthusiasts around the world to generate a general consciousness among the people and make it a mass movement. Honourable Consul General of India in Birmingham Dr. Aman Puri, in his welcome address, enumerated the steps taken by the Indian Government in general and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in particular to popularise Yoga and its benefits internationally. Dr. Puri remarked that yoga brings the world closer to India and India closer to the world. Clinical Tutor in Department of Physiotherapy, University of Birmingham Ms. Lizzie Gibbens, appreciated the efforts of the Consulate in hosting the event in association with the University and said that Yoga embodies unity of mind and body. The Consulate’s initiative to organise free yoga classes on a regular basis and training sessions at the Consulate premises, Universities and organisations was reiterated by the Consul General. Such free classes & Training Sessions have been going on since last year on a regular basis. The programme continued with practice of the Common Yoga Protocol by all and was followed by other advanced yoga demonstrations which were performed by Yoga students of Dr. Dheeraj P. Joshi, Teacher of Indian Culture and Yoga at the Consulate. One of the main attractions of this event was the yoga discourse and practical demonstrations by Dr. Dheeraj P. Joshi himself along with his daughter who is also his regular disciple. His simple way of explaining yoga appealed to the masses, who enthusiastically performed the asanas one after another along with the Yog Guru. The day concluded with ‘Yog Geet’ by Ms Shashikala, a renowned playback singer and chanting of mantra by Mr Carlo Sutar and his 4-year-old daughter Ms Taanushya. IDY 2019 was also celebrated at Bradford Academy-Bradford, Brahma Kumari-Leicester, Shree Krishna Temple-Coventry, Laxminarayan temple-Birmingham, Hindu Temple and Community Centre-Nottingham and Hindu Community centre-Wellingborough. These celebrations with representations from the Consulate, had a combined participation of more than 1000 yoga enthusiasts including members of the Indian Diaspora, and other friends and well-wishers of India.

The events encouraged the participants to imbibe yoga in their daily lives to ensure that this ancient form of physical and spiritual exercise will help them to overcome the stress and ailments of today’s modern-day life.