‘India’s influence on the world has also been through its amazing soft power, with yoga being a shining example.’
London celebrated Yoga Day with aplomb. The day began early at the High Commission India (HCI) with the lighting of lamps in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Gandhi Hall and a video message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. British Prime Minister David Cameron's goodwill message was also displayed. Indian High Commissioner Rajan Mathai and Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh joined a meditation and yoga class led by the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY).
From the HCI the group walked over to Waterloo Bridge to the event hosted by HCI and India Tourism at Bernie Spain Gardens, Southbank. Swami Kailasananda, Yoga Acharya, talked about "Universal Message of Yoga" and Satish Kumar, ecologist and philosopher lectured on "Yoga, the Way of Life".
On Tuesday, 23 June, Lord Bilimoria, Independent Crossbench Peer, founder and chairman of Cobra Beer, brought the First Annual UN International Yoga Day Celebrations to the House of Lords. MPs and Peers took part in the event.
At the event, Lord Bilimoria said, "Over the past two and a half decades the world has increasingly been looking to India as an emerging global economic superpower. However, India's influence on the world has also been through its amazing soft power, with yoga being a shining example. Today yoga is rapidly gaining in popularity around the world for its recognised benefits for wellbeing and mindfulness... I am delighted that we were able to celebrate International Yoga Day in the Houses of Parliament in London."
Courtesy: The Sunday Guardian
