Over 6,000 attend yoga session

Muscat: Indian Embassy organised a mega yoga session in Muscat on June 21, to celebrate the 5th International Day of Yoga (IDY), which saw participation of more than 6,000 yoga enthusiasts cutting across different nationalities and faiths.
The main event was organised by Embassy at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in association with Muscat based 18 yoga organisations, Indian Social Club & its 27 linguistic wings, Indian Schools and Oman Olympics Committee.
The event was well supported by Oman Government, represented by Mohammed bin Yousef Al Zarafi, Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs as chief guest. Senior officials of Oman Government, Ambassadors of many countries accredited to Oman and prominent Omani & Indian citizens were also present.
The yoga session also saw participation by members of diplomatic corps, Omani nationals, Indian community, students and other expatriates based in Muscat. The participants of one of the largest single location yoga gatherings outside India were ably helped by volunteers from various Indian community organisations in Muscat.
The event started with the welcome speech of Munu Mahawar, Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman.
The Ambassador welcomed all the honoured guests and special pre-recorded IDY video messages by were played. After this, the Common Yoga Protocol was played, which started with the message of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who congratulated everyone on 5th IDY and stated that yoga has linked the whole world as it helps to lead a holistic and balanced life.
After that all the participants performed various yoga postures in complete harmony and unison.
The 5th IDY was celebrated in other parts of Oman also, especially Sur, Sohar and Salalah.
The celebration held on 21st June was the culmination of long series of Yoga workshops and sessions.