By Himani Bhatt
On June 21, the Indian Embassy in Brazil commemorated the 8th International Day of Yoga at the historic Iguazu Waterfalls. The event was organized in collaboration with the Iguazu Falls Municipality.
Clad in white T-shirts and black yoga pants, the participants performed an array of asanas, Virabhadrasana II, Kumbhakasana, and Salamba Sarvangasana, to name a few.
A special yoga session was also organized on June 19 in Brasilia in cooperation with Governo do Distrito Federal and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). In addition, another event was held at the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.
On Dec. 11, 2014, the UN General Assembly designated June 21 as International Yoga Day at the request of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. June 21 is the summer solstice and is the longest day of the year within the Northern Hemisphere, with unique relevance in several cultures. The purpose of this initiative is to generate public awareness concerning the medical benefits of Yoga. In recent years, it has transformed into a mass campaign for well-being.
Manifestation Of Yoga In Brazil
Brazil has a robust community of Ayurveda and yoga specialists. In addition, people in Brazil have a vast amount of attraction for India's religion, culture, philosophy, and performing arts. International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Ramakrishna Mission, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Satya Sai Baba, and other spiritual establishments and gurus have chapters in the country. In addition, the nonprofit Brazilian Association of Ayurveda has offices in 9 states with members worldwide.