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INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY
Asian Voice |
www.asian-voice.com
30th June 2018
Indian diplomat calls for the implementation of weekly yoga classes in primary and secondary schools
Baba Ramdev who had a series of yoga sessions in the UK from 22-26 June 2018, will have a wax statue installed in Madam Tussaud it has been learnt. The session with the yoga guru started at London’s Olympia complex on Saturday, followed by a day in Coventry, then moved to Glasgow. Speaking to the press, Ramdev said, yoga, Ayurveda and spirituality has been India’s biggest contributions to man’s welfare. He also went on to say that yoga is so easy that anyone can get into it, and good health is free as well as our ‘birth right’. The United Nations General Assembly in December 2014 had declared that June 21 would be observed as International Day of Yoga every year. PM Narendra Modi is believed to be a great proponent of it too. Baba Ramdev, the 52year-old yoga expert, whose Patanjali Yog Peeth UK Trust already offers nearly 140 products from his Ayurvedic enterprise in Britain, has reportedly revealed that he has received several proposals to set up production units in the UK and Europe. He told the PTI, “There is great enthusiasm and growing demand for Patanjali products in these markets. We will soon take the decision in accordance with particular laws of
Photo courtesy: Twitter
Baba Ramdev to get wax statue in Madam Tussaud
these countries, which are different from Indian laws.” During the ongoing UK tour, baba Ramdev had also been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the National Indian Students & Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK) for his contribution to the
world through Yoga and Indian Traditional Sciences. N I S A U ’ s H o n o r a r y Fellowship is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a non-member by the union for their significant and long-lasting contributions to India, Indian culture and/or the welfare of Indian students in the UK, or elsewhere. With this award, Ramdev joins other Honorary Fellows such as humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar; Indian cinema personality and social activist Shabana Azmi, Rajya Sabha MP and Indian cinema personality Javed Akhtar and Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr S Y Quraishi. NISAU UK said Ramdev had been chosen because he is a “great role model” for youngsters and his story and achievements are “extremely inspiring”. Upon receiving the Fellowship, Ramdev said: “The truth is that to be a good leader, you have to have passion. For a good organisation to work, you have to have a leader who has the quality to be in charge. I can see NISAU is working so well because of its leadership.”
Raj Aggarwal centre in white with Sam Hancock in the back on left
First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones was asked to consider a plan to implement yoga classes for all primary and secondary schools at the International Yoga Day event in Cardiff on Thursday 21 June. Indian diplomat Raj Aggarwal called for the implementation of weekly yoga classes in primary and secondary schools at this year’s International Yoga Day celebrations at Ty Krishna Cymru, Emlyn House, Cardiff, which was attended by 100s of people, including Miss Wales Bethany Harris, and Miss Universe finalist Sam Hancock. The hugely successful annual event had been
arranged by the Honorary Consul of India for Wales, Raj Aggarwal OBE, and he said: “The introduction of yoga in schools has minimal cost implications but the benefits are incredible in both the long and shortterm. Many teachers who have implemented yoga classes in their schools have described how their pupils return to class after their yoga lesson in a better frame of mind for learning and even do better in their exams. “We asked the First Minister at the event to consider our plan to implement yoga classes across all of the schools in Wales." It was a packed event and there were classes for all abilities, from complete beginners to veteran yogis,
and there was a turn-out of several hundred people. The event has been arranged by Mr Aggarwal, who has been practicing the ancient Indian physical, mental and spiritual discipline for many years. Mr Aggarwal added: “I am pleased to take part in this global event to celebrate the 5,000 year-old practice of yoga, which originated in North India. Wales has a strong relationship with India and this event is a great way to continue to develop our valued business and cultural ties.” “Yoga is not only a great way for people to keep fit and healthy, it also helps focus the mind and allows people to relax and unwind from the stresses and strains of modern life.”
formed one after another asana along with the Master. He enumerated the benefits of constant practice of “Pranayama”, especially to cure ailments and reinvigorating the body and mind. Children performed asanas on stage along with Swami ji and sang Gayatri Mantra. Swami ji appreciated that yoga has become popular internationally. The Consul General thanked all the participants,
presented with an oil portrait of self. A memento was also presented to Raageshwari Loomba Swaroop for being anremarkable Master of Ceremonies. Dr. Puri remarked that yoga brings the world closer to India and India closer to the world. The day concluded with a hope that the participants will imbibe yoga in their daily lives and help to popularise yoga among others.
Yoga celebration in Coventry a massive success
Interestingly, Coventry has also been named the City of Culture 2021, thus it is an ideal location to recognise yoga, the ancient cultural gift of India to the humankind. In the last three years, this event has gained much popularity and a global following. Indian Missions around the world have made tremendous efforts to popularise yoga. The event which was compéred by Raageshwari Loomba Swaroop, popular actress and yoga practitioner, started with the traditional lighting of lamp by the Honourable Consul General Dr. Aman Puri, the Chief Guest Swami Ramdev and other distinguished guests. This was followed by relay of a small video message by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated that yoga is a way of life and
Photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania, PrMediapix
Thousands of yoga enthusiasts converged at Ricoh Arena, Coventry on June 24th to celebrate the fourth International Yoga Day and practice yoga under the tutelage of none other than yoga guru Baba Ramdev.
Lighting of the lamp by the Consul General Dr. Aman Puri, Baba Ramdev, Ms. Sunita Poddar (CEO Oakminister Healthcare Ltd), Mr. David Burbidge, Chairman
its regular practice keeps the body and mind fit. Prime Minister Modi also stressed on the need for standardising yoga and having institutionally trained and certified yoga teachers, so that yoga can be popularised, especially among the youth. In his welcome address Dr. Puri enumerated the steps taken by the Indian Government in general and Prime Minister Modi in particular to popularise Yoga and its benefits internationally. He also highlighted the recognition given to Yoga in United Kingdom (UK), especially Yoga4NHS which started in 2014 and UK’s first centre of Excellence and
Research Indian Traditional medicine and Yoga, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi along with His Royal Highness Prince Charles, during his recent visit to UK. Dr. Puri stated as yoga’s popularity is growing exponentially, it would not be difficult to foresee that in 2021 over hundred thousand people will perform yoga at Coventry along with Swami Ramdev. David Burbridge, Chairman of the Coventry City of Culture Trust assured that Coventry will be having fantastic events in ‘UK City of Culture 2021’ and he was hopeful that yoga celebrations would be a part of the
event. Baroness Sandip Verma, Chairperson of European External Affairs Committee (former Minister of Energy and Climate Change and International Development) stated that people today are becoming distressed and that yoga helps to bind people together again. Sunita Poddar, CEO- Oakminster Healthcare Ltd and Trustee of Patanjali Yog Peeth UK Trust informed that these days one in eight children are diagnosed with mental health issues and yoga being a holistic exercise can help in the physical, emotional and mental development. Nikhil Nanda, Managing Director JHS Svendgaard Laboratories, stressed that everyday should be “Yog Day”. Dr Ashok, a doctor of Ayurveda, encouraged the gathering to take a positive energy back home and create a healthy, wealthy and happy environment. The main attraction of this event was the yoga discourse and practical demonstration by Baba Ramdev. His simple way of explaining yoga appealed to the masses, who enthusiastically per-
The audience performing Pranayama in tandem with Baba Ramdev
the sponsors and especially Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Peeth Trust (UK) to make the event a success. As a gesture of appreciation for gracing the event and making it successful Baba Ramdev was
This will ensure that this ancient form of physical and spiritual exercise benefits more and more people and help them to overcome the stress and ailments of modern day life.