Government gives global yoga day a clean bill of health
By Marlan Padayachee
The South African government – including the KwaZulu Natal provincial premier – has thrown its weight and blessings behind the upcoming International Day of Yoga to be hosted by the Sivananda World Peace Foundation in the 10th successive year since it was declared as a global celebration by the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The event is scheduled to take place on the 22nd of June 2024 at the Durban Amphitheatre opposite elangeni hotel at 8:30am.
The colourful winter showpiece is expected to attract 3 000 participants from across Greater Durban and KwaZulu-Natal – including political leaders, ministers, city councilors and business figures – and organisers are also looking to turning the major milestone into a tourism attraction in coming years.
Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, deputy minister of health, has lauded the Sivananda World Peace Foundation, South Africa’s initiators of the global yoga day observance and celebration and has praised its philanthropic president, Prince Ishwar Ramlautchman Mabheka Zulu, for having consistently raised the bar on this iconic event over the past nine years: “The Department of Health is pleased to join hands once again with the Sivananda World Peace Foundation and the global community to commemorate the 10th International Day of Yoga. This event is a milestone for the South Africa at large and the global community.”
Ambassador Nomusa Dube-Ncube, KwaZulu-Natal’s Premier, has put her best foot forward in supporting the milestone that will take place on Saturday, 22 June, at the Durban Amphitheatre opposite the landmark Elangeni Hotel: “On behalf of the provincial government, I express my gratitude to the foundation and Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu for having started the International Day of Yoga ten years ago and for Promoting yoga for Humanity. The partnership … has seen thousands of children benefit through yoga in schools. Indeed, the Sivananda yoga vahanam (vehicle) which has travelled throughout the province is creating a huge difference in the education sector and amongst rural communities.”
Dr Dhlomo, deputy minister for Health has been a regular participant and has pioneered the government’s interest in the promotion of yoga by this non-profit socio-religious organisation: “This event is a milestone for the South Africa at large and the global community. Yoga brings about an awareness of mind, body, and soul that enables people to take care of their health and fitness.”
“Yoga is aligned to the health department’s mission of improving health status through the prevention of illnesses, diseases, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles for all … through physical activities. This is because of people around the world embrace yoga to stay healthy and rejuvenated, and to manage mental health challenges including stress and depression which are known to have devastating effects on the body and mind.”
Dr Dhlomo said the UN’s declaration of the IDY on 21 June each year marked a “momentous” event in the history of humanity: “Yoga is not just about working out; it's about a healthy lifestyle. The practice of yoga allows students to be still in a world consumed with chaos. Peace and tranquility achieved through focused training appeals to everyone.”
Premier Dube-Ncube highlighted the role of yoga in reducing the chasm in public activities since the scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic that claimed millions of lives worldwide – including in the province of KwaZulu natal . “Emerging from the pandemic which threatened to annihilate life on earth, the practice of yoga … should be embraced by people. Because of its health benefits, yoga is not meant only for those among us who practice a certain religion.”
Ramlutchman has reciprocated with gratitude to the government’s goodwill messages, saying that the ongoing partnership and cooperation between the country’s progressive government and non-government organisations and socio-religious movements was critical to rebuilding South Africa into a peaceful and harmonious, multicultural nation where communities needed to come together to celebrate local and global events together.
He said since the declaration of the International Day of Yoga on 11 December 2014 was significant, pointing to the annual dateline to the longest day in the northern hemisphere, which is “commemorated as a culturally significant day in various parts of the world that welcomes the summer season.
In the past decade, and decades before the UN’s endorsement, yoga – a 500-year ancient art of Indian physical, mental and spiritual fitness, with its breathing techniques produces a calming effect to mind, body and soul of adherents and encourages deep meditation and positive mindsets, has grown exponentially, firstly in the cultural heartland of India where the majority of the 200-million followers make yoga their daily ritual, and across the United States of America, 20-million are actively engaging in yoga.
‘’It is all systems go for the tenth anniversary celebration of yoga. As a city and country that us emerged out of competitive elections, yoga will serve to reinforce our commitment to promoting peace, harmony and tranquility. We are pleased that the themes include women empowerment this year,” said Ramlutchman.