Indian diplomat Raj Aggarwal leads 1st Yoga Day celebrations since pandemic outbreak

IN a first since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, Raj Aggarwal OBE, India’s honorary consul in Wales, recently led celebrations on the occasion of the International Yoga Day at Cardiff Castle. He was joined by several yoga enthusiasts on the occasion.

Aggarwal, who organised the event, said, “It was a fabulous day for the community and we really came together as a celebration of the resilience of humanity. We were also blessed with fabulous good weather so we could also practice our yoga out in the sunshine.

Participants perform yoga on Cardiff Castle grounds.

Calling for yoga sessions to be introduced in Welsh schools, Aggarwal said, “Detailed studies have shown that children are more attentive, relaxed in class and that they can retain knowledge better if they have regular yoga sessions. There are enough yoga practitioners to support this valuable activity at negligible cost.”

At the event which was held on the Cardiff Castle’s grounds, free yoga sessions were organised for people of all ages and abilities -- from complete beginners to veteran yogis -- by experienced yoga practitioners.

Participants at the yoga event organised by Raj Aggarwal, India’s honorary consul in Wales, with the Indian Tricolour at Cardiff Castle grounds.

Aggarwal, who is also a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical School, has been cultivating ancient Indian physical, mental and spiritual discipline for many years.

Speaking about his support for the event, the Indian diplomat said, “I am pleased to take part in this global event to celebrate the 5,000-year-old practice of yoga, which originated in North India. Yoga is not only a great way for people to keep fit and healthy, it also helps focus the mind and allows people to relax and unwind from the stresses and strains of modern life. This is the 8th International Day of Yoga and it was celebrated globally with the blessings of the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi.”