The India Tourism office in association with the Indian High Commission organised a yoga session at Britain’s historic Stonehenge as a precursor to the International Day of Yoga later this month.
Every year, June 21 is celebrated as the International Day of Yoga or ‘Yoga Day’.
The unique event witnessed yoga practitioners coming early yesterday morning at 6.00 am to perform ‘Surya Namaskar’ and other yoga ‘asanas’ in front of the British cultural icon and world heritage site Stonehenge.
Stonehenge is considered as one of the wonders of the world and the best-known prehistoric monument in Europe.
India’s Deputy High Commissioner to the UK Dinesh Patnaik said: “Yoga is one of the greatest cultural exports from India to the world. The ancient art of yoga enhances and enriches the quality of body, mind and soul. To be able to perform yoga at such a historic place, makes one feel proud”.
B B Mukherjee, Additional Director, India Tourism London, said he was excited at the idea of performing yoga early morning at Stonehenge and commented, “We all know the benefits of performing yoga. However performing yoga early morning is a great way to kick-start a day and leaves one with a feeling of freshness and energises the body for the rest of the day. We are increasingly witnessing a trend where UK tourists are now travelling to India for wellness and health reasons that include attending yoga classes and meditation”.
Jennifer Davies, English Heritage Head of Historic Properties for Stonehenge said: “English Heritage is delighted to welcome India Tourism and the High Commission of India to Stonehenge to practise yoga. There is an idea that in prehistoric times Stonehenge was a place of healing and pilgrimage, and so it seems fitting to use the image of the ancient, iconic stones to celebrate yoga”.
