Online International Day of Yoga celebrations hosted

Yogis from Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda and Anguilla joined the High Commission of India and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), Georgetown, in celebrating the 6th International Day of Yoga (IDY) under the theme “Yoga at Home. Yoga with Family”.

The International Day of Yoga celebrations with mass participation since 2015 was changed this year to an online event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the local High Commission, this year the event was live-streamed on social media and broadcast on several local and foreign television channels in Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and Anguilla.
During the online celebration, messages from the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, High Commissioner of India to Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda and Consul General of India to Anguilla – Dr K J Srinivasa and Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Timothy Harris, were aired. Additionally, Bollywood celebrities Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty, Former West Indies Cricket Captains Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sir Richie Richardson also sent in messages.
According to the High Commission, they conveyed messages creating awareness of Yoga and its relevance and benefits to people in their daily lives. A live Yoga demonstration was held under the guidance of SVCC Yoga Teacher, Agnela V Patil.
High Commissioner Srinivasa emphasised the importance of June 21 as the UN General Assembly, on the initiative of Prime Minister Modi, in December 2014, with support from 177 countries, unanimously declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga. Consequent upon this, since 2015, June 21 is marked as the International Day of Yoga in India and across the globe by Indian missions abroad. This day also marks the summer solstice.
Yoga is a gift to the world from ancient India. It is an intangible cultural heritage as declared by UNESCO.
In the current COVID-19 pandemic context and consequent restrictions on movement and a slowdown in daily activity, all are encouraged to practice Yoga as it is proven to be beneficial for the physical, mental and spiritual wellness of one and all.