The 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on the theme “Yoga for Self & Society” was celebrated by the Embassy of India in Bangkok with a yoga session held at the grounds of Chulalongkorn University on Sunday, 16 June, 2024. 5000 Yoga lovers from all walks of life participated at this yoga session.
HE Mr Sermsak Pongpanit, the Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Associate Prof. Dr. Pavika Sriratanaban, Director of the Institute of Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University, also took part at the event.
Ambassadors and members of diplomatic corps, senior officials of the Royal Thai Government, students and academia, media, representatives of Indian community and yoga lovers enthusiastically participated at the event.
The Ambassador of India to Thailand, HE Mr Nagesh Singh in his remarks underlined the importance of yoga for physical and mental wellbeing, and the significance of yogic practices and meditation to tackle modern day challenges at individual and societal levels. He also highlighted the centuries old religious, spiritual and cultural exchanges between India and Thailand, which continue to strengthen the multifaceted partnership between the two countries.
He mentioned about India’s special and historic ties with the Chulalongkorn University, as poet-laureate Rabindranath Tagore, and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, one of stalwarts of India’s freedom movement, received warm welcome at the University at a time when India was still a colony. The International Day of Yoga celebrations are being held at this university since 2015.
The yoga session on 16 June was coordinated by Bangkok based yoga teachers Mr. Sanjeev Chaturvedi and Mr. Rahul Autade. They were assisted by over 40 other Thailand-based yoga teachers and volunteers of different nationalities including UK, US, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.
The event was organized with the support of various partners from the Indian community and diaspora associations, yoga institutes, and Indian companies in Thailand. Faculty members and students of Chulalongkorn University played a key role in successfully organizing the event.
Besides the main IDY celebrations in Bangkok on 16 June 2024, the Embassy has organized several pre-cursor events in different schools, universities, government institutions, business chambers, community & cultural centres in the provinces of Pattaya, Ubon Ratchathani, Hat Yai, Phuket, and Lop Buri, apart from Bangkok.