Many yoga lovers on Saturday morning came in quantity to the Ho Xuan Huong indoor stadium in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, to celebrate the upcoming International Day of Yoga.

The event was held by the Consulate General of India and supported by the Department of Culture and Sports, the Department of External Relations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and the Union of Friendship Organizations.

It was part of the International Day of Yoga held every year in many cities worldwide after the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in 2014, following a call from Indian Prime Minister Neranda Modi.

Indian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Smita Pant said that the event was organized three days early because she wanted to make it easier for people to join it on the weekend.

At the International Day of Yoga open to the public, participants had the chance to experience Indian auspicious lamp lightning ceremonies and a traditional Indian dance performance.

Guests join the lighting ceremony at the 2nd International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City on June 18, 2016. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

A dancer performs a traditional Indian dance at the 2nd International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City on June 18, 2016. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

The main part of the day was when hundreds of people simultaneously participated in yoga exercises, instructed by Indian and Vietnamese yoga masters.

“I hope that the participants could get from the event a lot of positive energy,” Indian Consul General Pant told Tuoi Tre News at the event.

“And a lot of feelings of oneness, oneness to each other, oneness to things around,” she added.

“And a healthy mind and body.”

Participants practice yoga at the 2nd International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City on June 18, 2016. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

Participants practice yoga at the 2nd International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City on June 18, 2016. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

She is happy seeing yoga being well embraced in Ho Chi Minh City and believes the International Day of Yoga could help highlight the connection between people who love yoga in India and the Vietnamese city.

This is the 2nd year the International Day of Yoga has been held in the southern metropolis, after the first one attracted 5,000 people to an outdoor venue last year.

This year, it welcomed more than 1,000 participants, including locals and foreign yoga lovers, according to the organizers.

Participants prepare for yoga exercises at the 2nd International Day of Yoga in Ho Chi Minh City on June 18, 2016. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

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