Record 2,500 register for Yoga Day event at Washington Monument
June 10, 2019 09:09
The
iconic Washington Monument is set witness a record of sorts on Sunday,
when more than 2,500 people will gather in the United States capital to meditate
and celebrate the fifth International Day of Yoga by flexing their body
in multiple complex postures.
For the third time, the Washington
Monument -- that faces the National Mall overlooking the US Congress --
would host the International Yoga Day celebrations.
This would be
possibly the largest gathering of a free yoga event in Washington, given
the enthusiasm of health-conscious people.
So far, more than 2,500
people have registered for the event on June 16. Following a proposal
moved by India on December 11, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly
declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.
"We are seeing a
robust response to our call for participation at the fifth International
Day of Yoga at the iconic Washington Monument on Sunday, June 16. The
event has already received over 2,500 registrations," the Indian
Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, told PTI.
The event is
being organised by the Indian Embassy in association with more than 20
organisations.
And as an added incentive, Shringla said, the embassy
has scheduled a vegetarian food festival immediately after the yoga
event as part the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma
Gandhi.
Since his arrival in January 2019, Shringla has been
spearheading efforts for successfully organising the yoga day, which in
five years has become a sought-after event in Washington.
He has chaired
a preparatory meeting of embassy officers and representatives of the
partner organisations.
All ambassadors and representatives of UN
organisations have been invited to the event. Representatives from
various wings of the US government and the Congress are also likely to
attend it.
"Over the last few years, the popularity of yoga has
increased manifold in the US. I am told there are now about 36 million
yoga practitioners in the country. And this is good news!" Shringla
said.
To quote Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "Yoga has evolved as a way
to achieve a healthy living and combines physical, mental and spiritual
pursuits to achieve harmony of the body and mind. Its appeal today has
truly transcended cultural and linguistic boundaries and it has become a
global phenomenon," he said.
The proposal to declare the International
Day of Yoga was first moved by Modi in his maiden address to the UN
General Assembly on September 27, 2014.
Then permanent representative
of India to the UN Ashok Mukherji introduced the draft resolution in the
UNGA on December 11, 2014.
It was co-sponsored by a record 177
countries.
For the event this year, the Indian embassy has mounted an
active promotion campaign through its social media channels and website.
It has been running a Facebook ad campaign targeting individuals
within 25 miles of DC, and individuals with interest in meditation,
LuLulemon, yoga and yoga-related activities.
The advertisement is
expected to reach around a million people by June 15. In the run up to
the event, more than 12 curtain raiser events have been organised at
various locations across the US, including Maryland, Kentucky, West
Virginia and Virginia.
Several other promotional programmes have also
been held. The Indian embassy reached out to yoga studio owners and
teachers to ensure participation from American yoga enthusiasts.
The
Washington Monument is an obelisk on the National Mall, built to
commemorate George Washington, the first US president. -- PTI