Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak participates in eighth International Day of Yoga in Abu Dhabi with more than 5,000 participants

His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, led more than 5,000 participants to mark the eighth International Day of Yoga at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The event organised and conducted by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of India under the theme of ‘Yoga for Humanity’ was an overwhelming success.

The yoga workouts comprised breathing and stretching drills, and mediation in a multicultural environment attended by locals and expatriate communities of all ages.

The International Day of Yoga is an initiative of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and approved by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014, declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan emphasised on the day’s activities with positive energy.
“We are pleased to be with you today to celebrate together the eighth International Day of Yoga,” he said.

“We are here with different nationalities, cultures, religions and ethnicities reflecting the demographic diversity of the UAE, which is characterized by the strength of tolerance and coexistence.

“We will continue devoting ourselves to thinking and working together as one family, through understanding others and believing that they are human beings who deserve respect and empathy to become champions of human rights, human dignity, and happiness.”

His Excellency Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of the Republic of India to the UAE, extended his gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan, for his generous patronage and attendance.

“Our happiness is renewed every year with the organization of the International Yoga Day,” he said.

“The celebrations are happening across the globe. As the sun rises in the east and sets in the west by forming a kind of a guardian ring. This morning at 7.30 am, the world’s focus was on the UAE and Abu Dhabi in particular.”

His Excellency Aref Hamad Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “The International Day of Yoga in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan at the Zayed Cricket Stadium was a huge success.

“There were more than 5,000 participants of all ages from different nationalities, cultures, religions and ethnicities.”