Consulate General of India

Guangzhou

Consulate General of India, Guangzhou celebrated the 9th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2023 on the theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ on 21 June 2023 in Guangzhou. As part of the ‘Unity’ theme of AKAM, the Consulate cooperated with several yoga institutes, organizations and Indian Diaspora based in Guangzhou to mark this occasion. The event was attended by around 200 yoga enthusiasts including local Chinese students of Yoga, members of Indian Diaspora, Consulate officials as well as their family members.

2. The IDY2023 event, organized by CGI, Guangzhou, in cooperation with a well-known Yoga Institute Iyengar Yogshala, witnessed yoga enthusiasts performing yoga in front of the iconic Canton Tower and on the banks of the Pearl River in Guangzhou. The Consulate had also provided free yoga t-shirts and yoga mats for all the participants. During the event, Consul General Shri Shambhu Hakki delivered keynote address and mentioned about the importance of yoga for overall well-being as well as highlighted the role of the famous yoga gurus like BKS Iyenger in promoting yoga in China. He also joined the yoga enthusiasts in performing the Common Yoga Protocol which was led by Mr Peter Scott, a Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher and a disciple of BKS Iyengar.

3. Concluding the event, Consul General thanked and appreciated everyone for their enthusiasm and felicitated the partnering yoga organization for their contribution in promoting yoga in South China. This was followed by a group photo session.

4. The Consulate had started with the outreach initiative for the celebrations of the 9th International Day of Yoga 2023 in March 2023. The Consulate had organised the First Curtain Raiser Event of the 9th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2023 in cooperation with Parma Eco Valley on 6 March 2023. Parma Eco Valley is an organization in Guangdong Province that promotes Yoga, Ayurveda, Sattvik vegetarian eating as well as a holistic healthy lifestyle. The event was well attended by about 80 yoga enthusiasts. The event was inaugurated by lighting of the lamp by H.E. Pradeep Kumar Rawat, Ambassador of India to China.

5. Subsequently, an ‘International Day of Yoga 2023’ Coordination Meeting was held on 25 April which included Yoga Experts and Yoga Enthusiasts in South China both in physical and online mode. During the meeting, discussions were held on the various ways to celebrate the ‘Curtain Raiser Events’ as a run-up to the 9th IDY-2023 as well as the Main Event on 21 June 2023. Several Yoga Experts and Yoga Entrepreneurs from institutes like Isha Foundation, Iyengar YogaShala, Brahmakumaris, Parma Eco Valley and others shared their ideas. As a result the ‘Curtain Raiser Events’ as a run-up to IDY 2023 were planned in various cities under the jurisdiction of this Post. Keeping in mind the ‘Unity Theme’ of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) and to follow-up on the discussions held during the coordination meeting, the Post organized another Coordination Meeting on 15 May 2023 to discuss about the main celebrations of IDY 2023 in Guangzhou to include Ayurveda, Meditation & other aspects of ancient Indian wisdom and Indian culture. The meeting was attended by various yoga and wellness related stakeholders such as Parma Eco Valley, Brahmakumaris, Isha Foundation, Iyenger YogaShala & representatives from other yoga institutes based in Guangzhou.

Curtain Raiser Events as a run-up to the celebrations of IDY 2023:

6. Apart from the main event organized by CGI Guangzhou in cooperation with Iyengar Yogashala on 21 June, several IDY curtain raiser events were also organized in various cities under the jurisdiction of the Post such as by Quijing Peishan Yoga in Quijing, Yunnan on 13 May; Brahma Kumaris in Changsha, Hunan on 11 June; Jnana Yoga Haikiou in cooperation with ITCC in Haikou, Hunan on 17 June; Isha Foundation in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province on 18 June; Mr Rahul Panwar, Atha Yoga in Chengdu, Sichuan on 18 June; Mr Raja Vikrant, Anaadi Yoga in Chengdu, Sichuan on 18 June; 7 Chakras Indian Yoga & Face South Yoga in Hunan on 21 June.
The Consulate provided Yoga T-Shirts to all these organizations for extending their cooperation. The Consulate also posted about their IDY event on the Post’s official social media platforms.

Yoga for Diplomats and Expats 2023:

7. The Post had also launched a one-month long ‘Yoga for Diplomats’ Free Workshop in cooperation with ‘Iyenger YogaShala’, Guangzhou on 22 May 2023 as a run-up to the celebrations of the 9th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2023. About 30 yoga enthusiasts from the Diplomatic Corps including India-based Consulate officials and their family members attended the Yoga Workshop. The ‘Yoga for Diplomats’ Workshop was inaugurated by lighting of the ceremonial lamp. The Yoga Workshop featured several aasanas, including Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutations). The participants of the Yoga Workshop were also given free ‘International Day of Yoga’ T-Shirts on the first day of the class.

8. In order to promote the International Day of Yoga among the Diplomats and Expat community in Guangzhou, the Consulate had also organized a special yoga session at the premises of the Consulate on the 17 June 2023, a Saturday preceding the IDY2023 to ensure maximum participation. Consul General delivered keynote address during the event and joined over 50 yoga enthusiasts in performing the Common Yoga Protocol which was led by Yoga Expert Mr Ajay Kumar and Ms Zeng Li Ting, Titiksa Yoga Institute, Guangzhou.

Upcoming Events:

9. Consulate General of India, Guangzhou is also organizing an event to celebrate the 9th IDY in the evening of 21 June 2023 in Shenzhen, in cooperation with Yoga Expert Mr Digya Pratap Singh, Soham Yogashala, Shenzhen. The Consulate is cooperating with Parma Eco Valley to organize an IDY 2023 event in collaboration with Brahma Kumaris in Guangzhou on 25 June. The event will include other aspects of Indian culture and wellness such as Ayurveda and Meditation.

10. A few images from the celebrations of the 9th IDY event organized by CGI Guangzhou in front of the iconic Canton Tower and on the banks of Pear River on 21 June 2023 are placed below. The remaining photos and videos have been uploaded on the google drive link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PacP5qCWEzl1SgFM3uRyKybirAP1eHms?usp=drive_link