6^th city – Wenzhou (Dongtou) hosts 3^rd International Day of Yoga Celebrations today – 1000 Yoga Lovers welcome 3^rd IDY at Dongtou Wanghai Pavilion

 (18 June 2017, Wenzhou, Zhejiang) 

          Wenzhou (Dongtou) today became the sixth city in the Eastern China region to host the celebration           of the 3^rd International Day of Yoga (IDY) at a function, which was jointly organized by Consulate               General of India, Shanghai along with Wenzhou Municipal People’s Government today. 

2. The 3^rd IDY celebration was held at the scenic Dongtou Wanghai Pavilion and more than 1000 yoga lovers from all over Wenzhou participated in the Yoga session. The Wenzhou 3^rd IDY celebration also hosted a unique performance of Chinese Taichi, Kongfu and Yoga together as a synchronized dance sequence to open the event. It may be noted that in the Eastern China Region, Wenzhou (Dongtou) became the sixth city to host the 3^rd IDY launch, which would be celebrated across twelve cities in Eastern China from 17 – 25 June. 

3. Giving the inaugural address at the IDY launch, Vice Mayor of Wenzhou, Mr. Wang Chi, recalled the close association that Wenzhou city has had with India, including the recent establishment of the sister city relationship between Wenzhou and Lucknow on 24^th April. He welcomed the introduction of Yoga and committed to hosting the event each year in Dongtou on a regular basis. Given the natural sea side beauty of Dongtou county, he added that it would provide a natural platform to the long term and sustainable practice of Yoga. 

4. Consulate General of India Shanghai had arranged through KYM (Krishnamachari Yoga Mandiram) a leading Indian Yoga teacher, who conducted the Yoga session for the 1000 plus 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 Wenzhou, and was supported by the India China Economic Culture Center of Wenzhou. A delegation of Uttar Pradesh Government officials who had participated in the India China (Wenzhou) Leather Dialogue Forum on 17 June also attended the 3^rd IDY celebration. 

5.     It may be noted that in the Eastern China region of Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, 3^rd IDY celebrations are being organized by CGI Shanghai from 17 - 25 June, one day each across twelve cities in ECR, with theme of “Ten cities, Ten Days, Bringing together 20000 Yoga Lovers closer to India – promoting healthy and harmonious lifestyles”! 

6.    Each of the venues chosen in the twelve cities, i.e. Wuyi (19 May), Huzhou (20 May), Lishui (10 June), Zhenjiang (11 June), Hangzhou – Tonglu (17June), Wenzhou - Dongtou (today), Shanghai (21 June), Suqian (23 June), Xuzhou (23 June), Taizhou (24 June) and Wuxi (25 June), will be at prestigious open public spaces with participation from at least 1000 people at each venue. The grand finale will be held on 25 June 2017 in Wuxi at the foothills of the scenic Lingshan Temple, where nearly 10000 Yoga Lovers are expected to participate in a record setting event in mainland China.

Wenzhou – Dongtou, Zhejiang,

18 June 2017