As many as 192 countries will usher June 21, International Yoga Day, with some deep breathing and coordinated movements.
India’s big splash to mark the international event stretches from the Federated States of Micronesia in the West of Pacific Ocean to the far south of Samoa; from Reykjavik in the Nordic Island to Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.
After 177 countries co-sponsored the big event at the United Nations, preparations are under way in 192 countries to ensure that demonstrations to mark the International Yoga Day pass off without glitch.
Missions and embassies abroad, in collaboration with non-governmental yoga institutes, have put in weeks of preparations to organise public events. Even as the celebrations remain mired in controversy in India, 47 nations, which are part of the Organisation of Islamic Countries, giving it their approval has come as a big boost for the government, which has been trying hard to de-link the exercise from religion.
Referring to the overwhelming support, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had recently pointed out that with the start of the holy month of Ramzan, the only concern that Muslim nations had was over the timing of the demonstration.
While some countries have even had events in the run-up to the big day, in Pakistan the celebration will be limited to the High Commission in Islamabad.
In Afghanistan, an event has been organised in the Consulate in Heart, while in Burkina Faso, the venue is the Mediatech Municipal Hall.
In Spain, celebrations will take place in multiple places in Madrid, Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife, Canary Islands), Valladolid (Castile and León), and Barcelona; in South Africa, yoga enthusiasts can join demonstrations in Pretoria, Cape Town and Johannesburg. Australia, too, has welcomed the move with the High Commissioner in India, Patrick Suckling, saying the celebration is an affirmation of the universal acceptance of yoga as a practice for mental and physical well-being.
