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World Yoga Day in Jakarta seeks to attract 1,000 people
Despite a smaller location this year and mindful of fasting in the ongoing holy month of Ramadhan, World Yoga Day celebrations are still expected to draw a strong crowd of more than 1,000 people to Central Jakarta’s Taman Menteng for a public yoga session on Saturday morning.
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The session on Saturday is held ahead of the International Day of Yoga on June 21, with the main event set to begin at 6 a.m. (Anggara Mahendra/File)
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espite a smaller location this year and mindful of fasting in the ongoing holy month of Ramadhan, World Yoga Day celebrations are still expected to draw a strong crowd of more than 1,000 people to Central Jakarta’s Taman Menteng for a public yoga session on Saturday morning.
Manish, the Indian Embassy's deputy chief of mission said the event this year, which would be the embassy's third time co-hosting, would be moved from its previously larger location at the Bung Karno Sports Complex (GBK), due to ongoing renovations for the 2018 Asian Games.
"We [still] expect to accommodate about 1,200 to 1,400 people in the new venue," Manish told reporters on Monday, saying that was approximately the same number of attendance last year.
The session on Saturday is held ahead of the International Day of Yoga on June 21, with the main event set to begin at 6 a.m.
Manish said he still expected a strong number of attendance, as yoga communities are set to encourage members to participate.
Read also: Ancient yoga, a way of modern life
Approximately 1,000 people have signed up online, citing data from the embassy, with more also expected for walk-in registration that is scheduled at 5 a.m., Manish added.
Eshila Maravanyika, United Nations Information Center's (UNIC) acting director, said the event aimed to raise awareness in the values of practicing yoga, such as obtaining peace and harmony through the connection of mind and body.
Reminding that the day was unanimously declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Dec. 11, 2014, Maravaniyka said the move showed a united recognition from UN member states in the benefits of yoga.
"To show that we all value a healthy living and a healthy living coming from yoga."
Various events leading up to the Yoga Day celebrations have also been held in collaboration with the embassy with the aim of spreading awareness about yoga, especially among youths, Maravaniyka said, as sessions were held at universities around Jakarta. (kes)
