Yoga Unites Thousands at Cradle of Humankind in South Africa

Johannesburg, Jun 20 (PTI) — Thousands of yoga enthusiasts are set to gather at South Africa's iconic UNESCO World Heritage site, the Cradle of Humankind, on Saturday to celebrate the International Day of Yoga (IDY). This significant location, rich with cultural and historical value, highlights the connection between ancient Indian yoga philosophy and the harmony it promotes with humanity and nature, expressed Mahesh Kumar, the Consul General in Johannesburg.

Kumar, who successfully spearheaded last year's IDY event at Wanderers Stadium—drawing a record 8,000 attendees—emphasized that yoga, rooted in the Sanskrit term ‘yuj’ meaning ‘to unite’, symbolizes the connection of mind, body, and environment. The Cradle of Humankind offers an ideal backdrop for this global wellness event. In anticipation of the eleventh annual IDY, yoga events organized by the Indian High Commission in Pretoria and its Consulates in Johannesburg and Durban have been taking place at various venues throughout the month.

This weekend’s celebrations will conclude at several notable sites, including the Cradle of Humankind, Union Buildings—the seat of the South African government—and the Royal Natal National Park in the Drakensberg mountains. Last week at Tolstoy Farm, Gandhi's former commune near Johannesburg, hundreds of young black schoolchildren joined local and Indian expatriate communities to practice yoga under the guidance of instructor Maya Bhatt. This gathering was organized in partnership with the Mahatma Gandhi Remembrance organization, which has been working to revive Tolstoy Farm.

The Indian missions this year aimed to decentralize IDY activities to reach more rural South African provinces. On Friday, the Durban Consulate, alongside Ezemvelo Wildlife and other partners, hosted 300 participants at the Drakensberg Amphitheatre—a UNESCO Heritage site in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. Other events took place in the Free State and the Eastern Cape provinces. Under the theme ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’, over 300 participants, including local students, were guided by experienced instructors to incorporate balance and harmony into their lives, stated Thelma David, the Consul General in Durban.

Earlier collaborations included yoga sessions with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre at the Pietermaritzburg Railway Station, a site of historical significance due to Gandhi's past. The IDY celebrations also extended to the annual Comrades Marathon, with numerous Indian runners participating. Endorsements for Saturday's IDY event at Durban's beachfront have come from notable figures such as Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, noted Sivananda World Peace Foundation President Ishwar Ramlutchman. The foundation is leading the organizing efforts for this event.

For the second year running, Premier Thami Ntuli will open the Durban event, affirming the profound impact of yoga on physical, mental, and emotional well-being. As we celebrate this unique day, yoga continues to unite, foster peace, and inspire a balanced coexistence with nature, Ntuli stated. In Pretoria, the Indian High Commission will host IDY on Sunday at the Union Buildings—a UNESCO Heritage site designed by Sir Herbert Baker, who also significantly contributed to the design of Delhi.

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