As the world celebrated World Yoga Day, the Consulate General of India in Dubai organized a grand event at the World Trade Centre, Sheikh Rashid Hall, where over 5,000 residents from more than 50 nationalities gathered to participate in yoga sessions. The event, in partnership with Friends of India, aimed to showcase yoga as a practice that promotes physical and mental well-being. Among the attendees were 1,500 school students who joined yoga enthusiasts of all ages in performing a series of yoga positions under the guidance of experienced instructors.
One of the participants, Olga Ivanov, a Russian expatriate living in Dubai and practicing yoga for 17 years, shared her experience saying that she has been drawn to yoga since her childhood in St. Petersburg. Attending mass yoga sessions in various cities like London and New Delhi, she found the Dubai celebration to be particularly special with its diverse participants trying to learn and practice yoga together. Ivanov expressed feeling rejuvenated and more connected to the international community in Dubai, calling her journey transformative.
The event featured a series of yoga sessions led by experienced instructors focusing on promoting physical and mental well-being among participants. Attendees of all ages came together to celebrate this ancient practice that embodies harmony and inner peace. Aileen Khani, a 12-year-old student from Iran, attended the event with her mother to learn about yoga for the first time. Following the instructors’ guidance, Khani found the breathing exercises calming and expressed interest in practicing yoga at home and teaching her cousins about it.
Another enthusiast, Priya Sharma, an Indian expat residing in JLT, shared that yoga has always been an essential part of her daily routine. Seeing people from different nationalities embracing yoga on World Yoga Day warmed her heart. Sharma particularly found the mass meditation session moving, bringing a sense of peace and unity among the participants. Grateful for the opportunity to be part of the celebration, Sharma expressed pride in witnessing yoga making a global impact.
International Yoga Day, recognized by the United Nations since 2014, is commemorated annually on June 21. The Consulate General of India and Friends of India expressed their appreciation to all participants for their overwhelming support and active involvement in making the event a success. The celebration of yoga in Dubai showcased the harmonious blend of diverse nationalities coming together to embrace this ancient practice that promotes overall well-being and inner peace.
