HÀ NỘI — Up to 10,000 people will join International Yoga Day festivities in big cities in Việt Nam this June 18 to July 2.

Participants will practise yoga together during the celebrations.

The events will take place in Hà Nội’s Quần Ngựa Stadium on June 26, HCM City’s Hồ Xuân Hương Indoor Stadium on June 18, Đà Nẵng’s Biển Đông Park on June 19, Hải Phòng’s Việt Nam – Czech Friendship Palace on June 21, Nha Trang City Conference Centre on June 25, and Vinh’s Hồ Chí Minh Square on July 2.

Yoga Day will promote culture and sport exchanges between Việt Nam and India. It will also strengthen friendly relations between the two countries. The event is expected to draw the participation of many people, especially yoga lovers, students, and the Indian community in Việt Nam.

Việt Nam was one of the first countries to co-sponsor the United Nations General Assembly Resolution creating International Yoga Day. So far, 177 out of 193 UN member states have co-sponsored the resolution, creating a new record for the highest number of co-sponsoring countries for a UN resolution to date.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first called for the adoption of June 21 as International Yoga Day while addressing the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014. The resolution accomplishing this soon followed.

“Yoga is an invaluable gift of Indian ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfillment, harmony between man and nature, a holistic approach to health and well-being,” Modi said.

“Yoga is harmony between yin and yang, man and nature, and male and female. Vietnamese people are clearly aware of this harmony,” Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said. “I have visited many places in the world. But Việt Nam is the only place where young and old, male and female, wake up at 5am to do morning exercises. The people always practise out in the open, close to nature. So I think that International Yoga Day, initiated by Indian people, will be warmly welcomed by Vietnamese people.”

Last year, 8,000 people participated in the first International Yoga Day in Việt Nam.

From now through June 26, free yoga practice sessions will be provided at the Indian Embassy in Hà Nội at 7am, with instruction and guidance provided by an Indian yoga master.

Those interested in Yoga Day may register to participate at www.iyogadayvietnam.org. — VNS