Over 1,000 enthusiasts gather for Yoga celebration at Batu Caves

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 1,000 yoga enthusiasts from various backgrounds, including members of the diplomatic community and senior officials of the Malaysian government, participated in the 9th International Yoga Day celebration organised by the Indian High Commission in Malaysia.

The Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, B.N. Reddy, in his speech at the event at the Batu Caves Complex this morning, thanked the Malaysian government and various Malaysian partner organisations for their continued support of yoga.

"The Indian High Commission will continue to work with the partner organisations for wider dissemination of the practice of yoga and its inherent power to connect, and also promote physical, mental,and spiritual well-being of yoga.

"I am happy to inform that, with the support of 40 partner organisations in Malaysia, the Indian High Commission held yoga events in 75 locations in all Malaysian states last year from June 21 to the end of October," he said.

The event, graced by United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, Karima El Korri, featured a 40-minute yoga session, conducted in accordance with the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), led by experienced yoga instructors.

El Korri also read out the Message of UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres on the occasion of the 9th International Day of Yoga and informed the participants that Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will be leading the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UN Headquarters in New York for the very first time later today (June 21) and welcomed everyone to follow the live proceedings from the headquarters.

Prior to this, Modi, in a personal letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday, expressed his appreciation to Anwar as well as the Government and people of Malaysia, for their unwavering support and significant contributions to popularising yoga over the past few years.

Reflecting the ancient Indian philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (The world is one family), the theme for this year's International Day of Yoga was 'Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.'

This theme resonated with India's ongoing G-20 Presidency and its motto of "One Earth, One Family, One Future." – BERNAMA