Thousands join Yoga Day celebration in Dhaka

Commemorating International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2018, Indian High Commission in Dhaka organised an event at Bangabandhu National Stadium in the capital where thousands of people from all walks of life donning blue and yellow T-shirts joined in a mass yoga session.

The open to all programme included yoga demonstration and a lucky draw. This year, over 10,000 yoga enthusiasts attended the event.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader attended the celebrations as the chief guest while State Minister for Sports and Youth Dr Biren Sikder was the guest of honour.

Deputy Sports and Youth Minister Arif Khan Joy and Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla, among others, were present at the programme.

Diplomats from Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Afghanistan, USA, Vietnam, Switzerland, Vatican, European Union, representatives from UN agencies and celebrities were also present.

In a Facebook post, the Indian High Commissioner wrote, “Great turnout of over 10,000 enthusiastic participants at the 4th International Day of Yoga in Dhaka, Bangladesh.”

The celebrations of IDY commenced with the screening of a video message from the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

President Abdul Hamid also sent a message on the occasion.

Sports associations, yoga associations and institutes, students from various schools, differently-abled children, colleges and universities in and outside Dhaka, and Bangladesh Scouts participated in the celebration.

Teacher at Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) Mumpy Dey conducted the Common Yoga Protocol. Demonstration of yoga asanas were also performed by yoga students of IGCC and other yoga institutes in Dhaka.

At the end of the event, a lucky draw was held. Winners received a Tata Tiago car, a Bajaj motorcycle, a holiday package in India, a trip to Delhi for a couple and a hospitality package for a couple in a five star hotel in Dhaka.

Md Khairul Hassan Khan won the first prize: a Tata Tiago car.

Photo: Prabir Das

Similar events were also organised by the Assistant High Commissions of India in Rajshahi and Chittagong.

Various other Yoga organisations and institutes also arranged separate sessions to mark the day.

The United Nations on December 11, 2014, proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day.

The resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and co-sponsored by a record 175 member states.