Georgia to Celebrate International Day of Yoga

For first time Georgia will be joining the rest of the world this year in celebrating The International Day of Yoga. June 21st has been declared officially as such by the United Nations General Assembly.

A special press conference was held in the National Youth and Children’s Palace in Tbilisi by the organizers of the International Day of Yoga in Georgia: the Embassy of India in Armenia and Georgia, United Nations (UN) in Georgia, Tbilisi City Hall and Yoga Centre Ananda.

The event was attended by Ambassador of India to Armenia and Georgia, Suresh Babu; Head of the United Nations in Georgia, Niels Scott; Deputy Mayor of Tbilisi, Irakli Lekvinadze; and Edita Dilanyan, the Head of Yoga Centre Ananda.

According to organizers, outdoor events, yoga master classes and workshops will be happening not only throughout 50 countries around the globe but also in Rikhe Park, Georgia.

Lekvinadze stated that the Mayor’s Office will support any activity which aims to promote healthy living.

“Many people are doing Yoga in Georgia. A healthy lifestyle is very important for them and we will support such events with great pleasure,” he said.

Ambassador of India to Armenia and Georgia, Suresh Babu: “After declaring independence, India for the first time got the opportunity to introduce information about Yoga to the world. Yoga is the most precious gift of Indian culture to humanity.”

Head of the United Nations in Georgia, Niels Scott: “Everyone knows that one of the main mandates of the UN is to bring peace to the world. Yoga is mainly associated with peace, because peace must be not only around us, but inside us too. That is why we are celebrating it worldwide.”

June 21 was declared as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014. Yoga, a 6,000+ year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice originating from India (Bharat), aims to transform body and mind. The declaration came after the call for the adoption of 21 June as International Day of Yoga by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modiduring in his address to the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014.

“Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfillment, harmony between man and nature, a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day,” stated Modiduring at the UN General Assembly.

Tatia Megeneishvili