Consulate General of India in Melbourne conducts virtual event to commemorate IDY 2021

A session was organised by the Consulate General of India, Melbourne in association with the University of Melbourne, The Art of Living and Heartfulness Institute on Saturday 19th June, 2021 to mark the seventh International Day of Yoga (IDY). This year’s theme was ‘Yoga for unity and well-being”.

The event started with the lighting of the lamps and was followed by an opening speech delivered by Consul General Raj Kumar who delineated how 21st June was declared as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations in 2014 after the current Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had made recommendations for the same. The proposal which had found support from 177 nations culminated in the birth of the International Day of Yoga.

Professor Muthupandian Ashok Kumar

Professor Muthupandian Ashok Kumar, Assistant Deputy Vice Chancellor International India, Acting Director of Australia India Institute and a professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne expressed that it was a honour to be an event partner and that the University has had the pleasure of conducting the IDY event in collaboration with the Consulate General of India, Melbourne for the past three years. He also stated that the University of Melbourne has been at the forefront providing aid to those most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Professor Moira O’Bryan, Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne also emphasized the crucial role Yoga has been playing in helping individuals practising it gain mind and body relaxation especially in the past one year when stress levels have been peaking. She welcomed all the participants and urged all working professionals in particular to take out some time from their hectic schedule to practice Yoga in order to relieve themselves of stress.

Yoga session by volunteers of The Art of Living in progress

The Yoga session was conducted by the volunteers of The Art of Living while the Heartfulness Institute presented a meditation session.

Dr Santosh Kumar Yadav of AYUSH Information Cell Melbourne-Australia gave an insight into the essence of yoga. Highlighting yoga as an activity facilitating the unity of individual consciousness with universal consciousness, he stated that yoga is instrumental in balancing and harmonizing body, mind and emotions.

Dr Santosh Kumar Yadav

Prabhat Sangwan of the Consulate General of India, Melbourne closed the event by thanking all the participants whose involvement ensured the success of the virtual event.