UK to mark International Day of Yoga on the banks of Thames

LONDON: The UK will organise a mega event on the banks of river Thames here to mark the first International Day of Yoga on June 21, with more than 30 India-focused cultural institutions celebrating the day across the country.

The public event on Sunday will be held at Bernie-Spain Garden, on the South Bank of the Thames.

It will commence with the lighting of a lamp followed by speeches and exercises. It will also include a lecture titled 'Yoga - The Way of Life' by eminent ecologist and philosopher Satish Kumar.

The event is being organised by the Indian High Commission and the Government of India Tourist Office in collaboration with the British Wheel of Yoga, Sivananda Vedanta Centre and Art of Living Foundation.

The UN General Assembly had last year adopted a draft resolution, declaring June 21 as International Day of Yoga.

The idea for declaring an International Day of Yoga at the UN was formally proposed by Prime Minister Modi in his maiden address to the 69th General Assembly session in September last year.