China: Enthusiasts pratice Indian spiritual discipline ahead of Yoga Day

A large number of Yoga enthusiasts on Saturday participated in events held across China in association with the Indian Embassy here to mark the celebrations leading up to the second International Day of Yoga on June 21.

The embassy organised a major event in Beijing's popular Chaoyang Park, which saw a huge number of enthusiasts of the ancient Indian spiritual discipline stretching, bending and twisting their bodies in multiple complex postures. The event was organised in collaboration with Yogi Yoga, a prominent Yoga institute in Beijing.

Another event was held at the old Indian Embassy premises by PV Yoga, another leading yoga institute in the Chinese capital. Addressing the event, Charge d'Affaires Embassy of India B Bala Bhaskar said that many people are increasingly turning to Yoga to help tackle stress, and there is a lot of interest in China to collaborate with Yoga experts from India.

Famous Chinese painter and director of Chinese Painting Association, Gong Jianxin, also participated in the event, according to a statement from the Indian Embassy. Five Indian Yoga teachers led the mass yoga practice.

The event also included yoga workshops, Indian food, dance and music, and sale of Indian garments and accessories. Indian Consulate in Shanghai launched celebrations for the 2nd International Day of Yoga (IDY) in the Eastern China Region. The event there was jointly organised by the Indian Consulate General and Wenzhou Municipal People's Government.

Large number of yoga enthusiasts attended the event in Wenzhou despite heavy rain, the consulate said. Separately an India Culture Week was inaugurated in Wenzhou earlier, which featured an Indian film festival, an Indian food festival and an exhibition of Indian paintings, which will continue till June 23.

The Consulate said it was organising such events in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces as well. The Indian Consulate in Guangzhou has organised an International Yoga Festival in Dujiangyan near Chengdu in which a large number of yoga masters and enthusiasts are taking part, officials said.