Indian Consul General welcomes delegates to yoga event in Mandalay

22 June 2019
Indian Consul General welcomes delegates to yoga event in Mandalay
Photo: Bo Bo/Mizzima

The Indian Consul General in Mandalay welcomed guests to an event to mark the International Day of Yoga held in the city on Saturday.

Indian Consul General Mr Nandan Singh Bhaisora told VIPs and guests about the importance of yoga, a physical and spiritual practice that has spread around the world.

The following his speech:

His Excellency Dr Zaw Myint Maung, Chief Minister, Mandalay Region Government & Madam , Hon’ble Speaker H E. U Aung Kyaw Oo, Hon. Chief Justice, Hon. Ministers, Deputy Sepeaker, distinguished guests, Yoga Master,Teachers and students of various Yoga Institutes/ schools in Mandalay, our sponsors for the International Day of Yoga,  Friends from Media and all the Yoga lovers,

Excellencies, A very warm welcome. My greetings and hearty felicitations on this 5th International Day of Yoga which is being celebrated all over the globe   this week.  Yoga is a cultural heritage of mankind with its origin in India.  “Yoga” means “to join” or “to unite”.

It has been universally proved and accepted that practicing yoga promotes healthy living to mankind, brings harmony in all walks of life, helps in management of many lifestyle related disorders and prevents diseases. Yoga gives peace of mind.  Yoga enables the practitioner to find relief from the physical ailments and strengthens the body. Yoga can be used to manage your stress.  Millions and millions of people across the globe have benefited by the practice of yoga, irrespective of gender, geographic location, religious background, socio-economic status or cultural upbringing.  Yoga does not discriminate between anybody. Yoga makes us better individuals in thought, action, knowledge and devotion.

Yoga has become all the more relevant today as there is a dire need of unity, togetherness among the people and the countries, and in true sense of the word, yoga has brought the whole world together when more than 200 countries are celebrating this mega event during this week.  Thus, yoga is bringing the entire humanity together through its unifying power, binding the global community with a unanimous commitment towards better physical, mental & spiritual health.  Our Prime Minister in his message says: “Yoga connects the individual with the society and enables the society to become an extended family of the individual. Yoga is the journey from me to we. It ensures peace of mind; people who are at peace with themselves are at peace with others too; such people build harmonious nations; such nations build a harmonious world.”

Myanmar has a 55 percent of youth population (30 years);  they all have ardent desire to catch with the youth of ASEAN; Her Excellency Madam Aung San Suu Kyi has been saying that Myanmar’s most precious resource is its youth. Also Myanmar is proud of its diverse ethnic races who have been living together for ages peacefully. Practicing yoga by youth would certainly go a long way in shaping their mind and body in healthy manner and bring unity; the compulsory yoga classes in schools can be considered.

I am very happy to see that there is a lot of interest and awakening among the students & people towards Yoga in Mandalay but we need not stop here and promote more and more to make everyone healthy in body, mind and soul.  I am sure all of you will enjoy this yoga session and this will be a part of your daily routine and it will bring a qualitative change in your life style with positive vibrations, peace, unity, harmony & prosperity all around the society, Myanmar, India and around the globe.

Wish you all a Happy and Healthy International Day of Yoga.