On the morning of June 22, in Sa Pa town, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, the Embassy of India, in coordination with the People's Committee of Lao Cai province organized a program to celebrate the 10th International Yoga Day, 2024. This is the third consecutive time the event has been held in Lao Cai.
Attending this event, on the side of the Indian Embassy, there was Mr. Roshan Lepcha - Counselor of the Indian Embassy in Vietnam, his wife and the working delegation.
On the Lao Cai side, there were comrade Giang Thi Dung, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of relevant departments and branches; leaders of Sa Pa town.
In 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea of an International Yoga Day at the 69th United Nations General Assembly. 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga (IDY).
The theme of the 10th International Yoga Day is "Yoga for self and society". According to Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya, this year's theme of International Yoga Day means that if each individual can improve themselves and become a better citizen, society will progress, communicate and be in harmony.
Since early morning, hundreds of domestic and international Yoga athletes have been present at Sa Pa Cultural Park to prepare for this important event. The weather in Sa Pa on the weekend was cloudy, sometimes with light rain, and cool. Occasionally, thin mist descended from above, creating a poetic scene, true to the theme of this year's "Yoga in the Mist" performance.
Carefully laying out their carpets in the locations arranged by the organizers, Ms. Doan Thi Tuyet and the members of the club from Hanoi were excited for this event.
Ms. Tuyet shared: This is the third time I have participated in this event in Sa Pa. The event has been well received by many places, but I really love the typical climate of Sa Pa, the harmonious and hospitable people of Lao Cai, so I and the members of the club chose to participate in the event here. I hope that each of us will be a bridge for many people to know about Yoga, as well as about Sa Pa, Lao Cai.
This is the third consecutive year that Sa Pa town has been chosen to host this event. Currently, in Lao Cai province in particular and other provinces and cities across the country in general, the Yoga movement is being responded to and practiced by many people to protect and improve their health. Bringing Yoga into the life of the community has demonstrated the cultural connection as well as the strategic partnership between India and Vietnam.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Van, Director of Lao Cai Yoga Training Center, has been involved in this subject for 12 years. For her, the annual International Yoga Day event is a big festival for Yoga lovers. "When the time comes, it comes again", whether it is held inside or outside the province, every year Ms. Hong Van's club participates in this event.
Ms. Van shared: "I hope that through this event, many people will learn about the health and mental benefits that this sport brings, thereby spreading good values to the community."
At 9:30 a.m., the weather cleared up and the “Yoga in the Mist” performance officially began. Indian instructors and directors of Yoga clubs from within and outside the country were placed at the front of the line, while the athletes sat cross-legged on mats and got into their preparatory positions.
The performance begins with simple inhalations and exhalations. The difficulty of the movements increases gradually with the gentle music and the instructor’s instructions. The performance ends gently with inhalations and natural breathing.
Although the athletes came from many different clubs, it was their first time performing together, but they performed well and beautifully, bringing an impressive performance to the locals and tourists.
Counselor of the Embassy of India in Vietnam said: Yoga is a discipline that has been practiced by Indians for thousands of years. Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning union, indicating the unity between a person's body, mind and the surrounding environment. The United Nations recognizes Yoga as a comprehensive approach to physical and mental health, and acknowledges the widespread practice of Yoga brings many health benefits to all mankind.
“I am delighted to have everyone present at today’s event to join in the call to raise awareness about the benefits of yoga. Let us all work together to promote and popularize the benefits of yoga and practice it regularly in our lives.”
According to Mr. Roshan Lepcha, the widespread interest in Yoga throughout Vietnam is encouraging, associated with a strong belief in the importance of maintaining health.
This year, International Yoga Day is being celebrated in 35 cities and provinces. The Indian Embassy offers Yoga courses and degrees, as well as scholarships from the Government of India for individuals who wish to study Yoga professionally for their practice.
Participating in this year's event, Ms. Giang Thi Dung, Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, expressed her hope that the event celebrating the 10th International Yoga Day in Sa Pa - Lao Cai would contribute to further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India in general and the good cooperative relationship between Lao Cai province and its partners and the Indian Embassy in particular.
The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed that this is an opportunity for Lao Cai to introduce to the public, domestic and international friends the beauty and uniqueness of Lao Cai's land and people. At the same time, it is an opportunity for local people to learn more about Indian culture, thereby loving the country, the people of India and Yoga more.
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