WASHINGTON: Yoga Can Improve Physical, Mental Health During Covid: Indian Envoy In US

WASHINGTON: Yoga has the potential to provide
both health and happiness by improving the physical and mental wellbeing of the
people, especially given the impact of the global pandemic, India’s top
diplomat in the US has said, kicking off the 7th International Yoga Day
celebrations in the country.

India’s
Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, on Sunday participated in the yoga
protocol session at the Indian House which was attended by embassy
officials in-person, while a large number of people across the US joined the
event virtually through Zoom and the embassy’s social media handles.

Welcoming
the participants, Mr Sandhu stressed on “yoga’s potential to provide both
health and happiness by improving the physical and mental wellbeing of the
people, especially given the impact of the global pandemic,” the Indian
Embassy said in a press release.

He also
noted that India and the US have stood shoulder to shoulder with each other in
fighting the pandemic, it said.

This
year’s theme for the event is “Yoga for Wellness”.

All the
five Consulates of India in the US — in New York, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta
and San Francisco — are also holding various programmes to mark the
International Yoga Day.

In New
York, the Consulate partnered with Times Square Alliance to host celebrations
at the iconic Times Square, attended by more than 3000 people. In keeping with
the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2021 theme, the event showcased holistic
health.

The
Indian community in New Jersey led the Yoga Day celebrations at the Liberty
State Park. In Chicago, the Consulate commemorated IDY 2021 in Grant Park in
partnership with yoga organisations in the Midwest region, wherein there was
enthusiastic participation in virtual and in-person modes.

The
American Academy of Yoga and Meditation, with the support of the Consulate
General of India in Atlanta, is organising International YogaCon USA 2021 with
“unprecedented response”, the press release said. The Consulate also
held events in Florida and Puerto Rico to mark the Day.

The
Consulate General of India, Houston held yoga events at Buffalo Bayou Park,
Houston and at River Walk in partnership with the City of San Antonio.

In San
Francisco, Consulate is holding Yoga Day celebrations at the Palace of Fine
arts, besides Distinguished Speaker sessions by Vivekananda Yoga University in
Los Angeles and Yoga quiz on FM radio.

Across
the US, the Yoga Day celebrations are being held with the active participation
and support of American people, including community organisations and yoga
enthusiasts, the release said.

June 21,
the Northern Hemisphere’s longest day, is celebrated as the International Yoga
Day worldwide after the United Nations General Assembly adopted in 2014 a
proposal mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.