DUBAI – His Excellency Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, met His Excellency Vipul, the Consul General of India in Dubai, to discuss preparations for next month’s International Day Yoga.

Mr Vipul met HE Saeed Hareb at the Dubai Sports Council office, in the presence of Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of DSC, to discuss plans for the 5th International Day of Yoga, which will be celebrated on June 21.

During the meeting, it was agreed to organise the main event celebrating the 5th International Day of Yoga on the evening of June 21 at Zabeel Park and to invite all government entities and private institutions to participate in the celebrations, which have become an important annual event on the sports calendar of Dubai.

“We are proud that Dubai were the first city in the world to organise events to mark the International Day of Yoga in 2015 and we are pleased to see the grow since across the world,” said HE Saeed Hareb. “We have seen big, enthusiastic crowds attending International Day of Yoga celebrations across the city over the past four years and we are expecting the same for this year.”

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that symbolises the union of body and consciousness. It originated in India but is now popular across the globe and, recognising its universal appeal, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014.

The following year, Dubai became the first city in the world to organise events to commemorate the International Day of Yoga. Since then, Dubai has become one of the leading centres of yoga in the world, hosting a number of events throughout the year and across the emirate, including the Al Marmoom Conservation Reserve, Burj Park and Kite Beach.

“We have organised some very big events in Dubai to mark the International Day of Yoga over the past four years,” said HE Vipul. “Dubai was the first city to support us and we have worked in partnership with Dubai Sports Council to make the celebrations a grand affair every year. This year again, we are looking to organise another big celebration. We have lots of exciting plans.”

In 2015, more than 13,000 people turned up at Al Wasl Sports Club to take part in the activities that marked the first International Day of Yoga. Twelve months later, the main event was held inside the air-conditioned halls of Dubai World Trade Centre and more than 20,000 people took part with Baba Ramdev leading the throng. In 2017 and 2018, the International Day of Yoga celebrations were held across Dubai and dozens of Dubai private schools also took part in the celebrations.