A 10-day Yoga Mahotsav celebrating the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY) commenced today at the Colombo National Museum. This year’s IDY theme, ‘Yoga for Women Empowerment,’ was embraced with enthusiasm, drawing participation from over 200 students representing various schools in Colombo.
Organized by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission of India, Colombo, in collaboration with 30 organizations across Sri Lanka, the Yoga Mahotsav 2024 will run from June 13th to June 22nd, 2024.
Day II of the Yoga Mahotsav will focus on ‘Yoga for Health’ and will be held on June 14th at Mc Heyzer Stadium, Trincomalee, in partnership with the Eastern Province Tourism Bureau. Subsequent days will feature themes such as Yoga for Family, Yoga with Spirituality, Yoga for Humanity, Yoga for Well-being, Yoga for Ayurveda, Yoga for Peace, and Yoga for Harmony at various iconic locations nationwide. The Mahotsav will culminate with a grand event at Galle Face Green in Colombo on June 22nd.
In anticipation of IDY, approximately 100 yoga events will be organized across Sri Lanka by the High Commission of India and its posts in Hambantota, Kandy, and Jaffna. These events, conducted against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s iconic landscapes, are in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Lands, Government of Sri Lanka.
In December 2014, the United Nations designated June 21st as the International Day of Yoga through Resolution 69/131, recognizing yoga’s comprehensive approach to well-being and its capacity to offer respite from the stresses of modern life. Since then, millions of yoga practitioners worldwide observe IDY on June 21st each year. Yoga, an ancient practice integrating mind, body, and spirit through physical postures, breath control, and meditation, promotes self-discovery, inner peace, balance, flexibility, strength, mental clarity, emotional stability, and spiritual awakening.
