Please Enter Keywords
资源 63
International Day of Yoga held at PKU
Jul 02, 2015
Peking University, July 2, 2015: On the morning of June 21, the opening ceremony of the first-ever International Day of Yoga was held at Wu-si Sports Center, Peking University (PKU),in the hope of raising public awareness of physical benefits of practicing the ancient Indian body exercises. The International Day of Yoga was co-hosted by PKU, Embassy Of India in China and Art of Living, raising the curtain for Peking University International Cultural Festival (ICF) 2015.

                                    /

Vice President of PKU Li Yansong and other distinguished guests such as Ashok K. Kantha, India's Ambassador to China, Dr. Catherine Sozi,UNAIDS country director in China, were present and gave talks during the ceremony. Li Yansong stressed that PKU has been promoting exchange and cooperation for culture and education with the establishment of the Center for Indian Studies since 2003. He hoped that China and India could pursue the inspiration of health and peace through the yoga. Ashok K. Kantha also wished China to become the second home of yoga, as more and more people taking part in the yoga practice in China. After the speech made by Ashok K. Kantha, all the guests released balloons, marking an official start to this exciting day.

                                    /

ICF has been the windows for PKU to communicate with the world, attracting tens of hundreds of fans every year. International Day of Yoga, the special event symbolizing the beginning of ICF 2015, has attracted increasing attention from both inside and outside the university, with teachers and students actively involved at PKU.

At the ceremony, more than five hundred yoga enthusiasts in Beijing gather together to practice yoga. Men and women, old and young, Chinese and Indians, they all set their yoga mats out, wore the same uniforms, and began to perform yoga in honor of the special day. After the spectacle performance, yoga enthusiasts also enjoyed 4 sessions of Yoga workshops from 9:45 AM to 15:30 PM, learning basic movements, meditation techniques and India's distinct breathing method. Within hours, everyone relaxed their bodies and rest in peace.

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word "yoga" derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity. On September 27, 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a day dedicated to yoga during his speech to the world body's annual assembly of world leaders. A draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and enjoyed landslide support of other UN member countries. Then, on Dec. 11, 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day by resolution 69/131.


                                    /

The first International Day of Yoga has greatly facilitated cultural exchanges and mutual understanding of yoga. As the last session of workshop was over, people bade farewell to the first International Day of Yoga reluctantly. We look forward to an exciting and vibrant ICF 2015!
 

Written by: Liu Meina

Edited by: Zhang Jiang

Source: Office of International Relations
Latest