Yoga in NZ parliament leads celebrations of the International Day of Yoga in the post Covid world

The High Commissioner of India was joined by several dignitaries including parliamentarians Ginny Anderson, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, members of diplomatic corps, general public and Swami Sadyoathah and all volunteers of the Art of Living Foundation in New Zealand parliament in beginning a series of commemorative events to mark the occasion of sixth International day of Yoga.

Speaking on occasion High Commissioner of India Muktesh Pardeshi began by first acknowledging the success of NZ people and the government is grappling with Covid-19 global pandemic.

“Today, when we are grappling with a global health and economic crisis and when large parts of the world are locked down, the celebration of International Day of Yoga at NZ Parliament in a physical setting is indeed uplifting. We commend NZ and its people for showing leadership and collective resilience in dealing with the global pandemic Covid 19,” Mr Pardeshi said.

“This weekend and over the coming week, the High Commission, in partnership with Indian community organisations and Yoga Institutes, would be celebrating IDY in several prominent cities such as Wellington, Auckland, Waitakere, Christchurch, Hamilton and Rotorua. There are many other events being conducted on digital platforms,” Mr Pardeshi said.

Yoga, a gift of ancient India to the world, has become a way of life for millions around the globe. As a mark of the immense popularity of Yoga, the world commemorates June 21 every year as the International Day of Yoga.

As a part of a global celebration, the Indian High Commission is organising celebrations in major cities across the country and encouraging Indian Associations and Yoga institutions to make the commemoration of IDY2020 a big success by hosting and participating in countrywide yoga sessions.

The High Commission has organised a celebratory event at Bharat Bhavan in Kilbirnie, Wellington from 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, in association with Wellington Indian Association, Art of Living and Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

The Hamilton event will be celebrated on Sunday, June 28 at Western Community Centre in Nawton from 2 p.m. which is organised in association with Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Art of Living and Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

The Christchurch event will happen on Sunday, June 21 at Christchurch Art Gallery at Worchester Boulevard from 9 a.m. organised in association with Indian Cultural Group, Art of Living Canterbury and Yoga by Kotte.

Community members are encouraged to participate in IDY2020 celebratory events in their cities and make it a grand success. The participants need to bring a yoga mat, towel and a bottle of water to the event, and some events might also provide the participants with snacks, refreshments and tea after the event.

One of the biggest and most popular yoga events held in the country on IDY every year is hosted at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre on Eden Terrace, and this year the hosts are estimating a bigger crowd than previous years.

“We have had great yoga events on IDY in the previous years under the leadership of the Consulate of India office, and we look forward to hosting a much larger attendance for this year,” Narendra Bhana from the Auckland Indian Association said.