High Commission of India, Georgetown, Guyana
Press Release Press Release

International Day of Yoga celebrated with Guyana Defence Force

The High Commission of India in Guyana led by High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa organized another Curtain Raiser Yoga Session event with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) today, 08 June 2022 at (Base Camp Ayanganna ), the Defence Headquarters, Georgetown.  This was the second curtain raiser event organized by the High Commission of India in the run up to the 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY2022) celebrations.  A Yoga Session Event was earlier held with the Guyana Police Force on 28 May 2022.  

High Commissioner of India H.E. Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, and Brig. Godfrey Bess Chief of Staff of GDF addressed the gathering while Yoga Guru Ms Agnela Patil accompanied by her disciples & Mr Amit Singh spearheaded the Yoga session. Over 50 officers / ranks of GDF along with representatives from the High Commission of India including Mrs Ashwini Gowdara, spouse of High Commissioner attended the Yoga session. While addressing the GDF officers at the Yoga session, the High Commissioner Dr. Srinivasa shared information about Yoga, it’s benefits for mental, spiritual and physical well-being and its relevance, and how everyone especially frontline workers including Defence Force officers across the globe have benefited by practicing Yoga even during the testing times of COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The Yoga Session was organised with the aim of demystifying the traditional Indian science of Yoga and allowing GDF Officers to personally experience the benefits of Yoga as it helps in controlling mental stress and tension as well as to keep them healthy and fit in keeping with the IDY2022  theme of ‘Yoga for Humanity’.

Yoga is a system of holistic living, having its roots in age-old Indian tradition and culture. Yoga transcends the barrier of race, religion and culture and has thus become a global health movement. Yoga is essentially a mental and physical discipline based on an extremely subtle science which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. It is an art and science for healthy living.

In December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by 177 member nations unanimously proclaiming 21st June, the longest day in the northern-hemisphere, as International Day of Yoga. Since then, 21st June is being celebrated as International Day of Yoga every year.  
 
The High Commission of India will also be organizing the main IDY event on Sunday, 19th June, 2022 from 1000 hrs onward at the Everest Cricket Ground in Georgetown where Guyanese dignitaries are expected to join along with Diplomatic Corps, students, etc. On 21st June 2022, starting at 0830 hrs another Yoga event will be held at the Indian Arrival Monument in Palmyra, Berbice. This event has been selected to be telecast live across the world as part of an initiative of the Government of India to ensure live broadcast of 24 hours of Yoga on IDY 2022 from iconic locations from across the globe and is denoted as “Guardian Ring”. The High Commission of India invites all Guyanese to come forward and join us on this journey to mental and physical wellbeing. These events will be live broadcast on the Facebook pages of the High Commission of India and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center as well as in prominent Guyanese TV channels.
 
Apart from the above, the IDY22 celebrations will be conducted on 19th June 2022 in Antigua & Barbuda (at the residence of His Excellency the Governor General), St. Kitts & Nevis and Anguilla at iconic locations where various dignitaries will grace the occasion.
 
Georgetown
8th June 2022.
 
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