1. A grand curtain raiser event to mark the upcoming celebration of the 2nd International Day of Yoga (IDY) in the Eastern China Region was jointly organized by Consulate General of India, Shanghai along with Taizhou Municipal People’s Government today.

2. The IDY promotional event was organized at the scenic location of foothills of the Tiantai Mountain, located in Taizhou (in Zhejiang Province) and witnessed participation from nearly 1000 Yoga lovers from Tiantai County.  It may be noted that in the Eastern China Region, in Tiantai county, alone there are at least hundred Yoga clubs with a following of hundred thousand people.

3. Giving the inaugural address at the IDY launch, Vice Mayor of Taizhou, Mr. Zhao Yuejin welcomed the introduction of Yoga culture into Taizhou and stated that just like Buddhism had bound two great Indian and Chinese civilization together, Yoga also had the potential to promote values of harmony and peace between India and China. Other top leadership from Taizhou, including Mayor of Tiantai County also participated and addressed the gathering.

4. Consulate General of India Shanghai had arranged through local resources a Chinese speaking Indian Yoga teacher, who conducted the Yoga session for the nearly 1000 Yoga practitioners, based on the Common Yoga Protocol sent by the Department of AYUSH.   The event was extremely well received by the large number of Yoga follower community in Taizhou.

5. Separately, later in the afternoon, another Yoga Workshop was organized at the famous Guoqing Temple in Tiantai, where nearly 250 local people joined in the celebrations.  Taizhou Municipal People’s Government intends now to organize the main celebration of the 2nd IDY in Taizhou at another prestigious venue on 22nd June 2016.

6. It is proposed that in the Eastern China region of Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, 2nd IDY celebrations will be organized by CGI Shanghai from 18 – 26 June, one day each across nine cities in ECR, with theme of “Nine cities, Nine Days, Bringing together 9000 Yoga Lovers”! Each of the venues chosen in the nine cities, i.e. Wenzhou, Wuxi, Shanghai, Yiwu, Shaoxing, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Taizhou and Ningbo, will be at prestigious open public spaces with participation from atleast 1000 people at each venue.

Shanghai
20 May 2016