THE High Commission of India in Georgetown, in collaboration with Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre organised yet another event to celebrate the 8th observance of International Day of Yoga at the Indian Arrival Monument, Palmyra, Berbice on Tuesday, according to a press release from the High Commission.
This event follows another held last Sunday at the Everest Cricket Ground, Georgetown and two others in collaboration with the Guyana Defence and Police Forces.
As part of India’s “Guardian Ring” Yoga Programme, countries from Japan and Fiji in the east to the United States in the west have been enlisted. Guyana is among the countries. The affiliated yoga events were streamed live on social media and broadcast on television stations across the world.
Delivering his message on the 8th International Day of Yoga via recorded video which was played at the event in Guyana and also across India last Tuesday, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali said “Yoga improves human wellbeing as a force of good in promoting social harmony and goodwill.”
“I encourage all Guyanese to discover the range of benefits that can be derived from Yoga. May this timeless practice help us to remember to live in harmony with nature and our fellow brothers and sisters,” Dr Ali said.
Meanwhile, India’s High Commissioner in Georgetown, Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, in his remarks, praised the simultaneous yoga events happening around the world with the primary event led by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the city of Mysuru, India.
There were also yoga events in 75 heritage locations and 100 cities which, the release said, signified the 75 years of Independence of India under the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
Echoing sentiments of Prime Minister Modi, High Commissioner Srinivasa, the release continued, said: “Yoga is a journey from ‘me’ to ‘we’. Yoga makes an individual a better person in action, thought, knowledge and devotion.”
Delivering feature remarks at the event on Tuesday in Berbice was Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. whom, the release noted, underscored the benefits of yoga to maintaining a person’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Minister Ramson expressed appreciation to the High Commission of India for building closer relations with Guyana, including culturally through yoga.
Tuesday’s yoga session was attended by Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) officials as well as representatives from the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus, and students from local schools and the University of Guyana.
The Indian High Commission’s team later visited the Berbice-based women’s prison where, the release press added that 25 inmates and prison staff officers participated in the yoga session there.
Throughout the observance, several national sites were used for yoga sessions including the Public Buildings, St George’s Cathedral, Umana Yana, Nelson Mandela Avenue roundabout, the 1763 Monument, and Promenade Gardens, all in Georgetown.
