Egypt marks Yoga Day with series of events

Scores of Yoga enthusiasts performed 'asanas' to mark the International Day of Yoga (IDY), organised by the Indian Embassy in Cairo.
A large number of Yoga schools, universities, students, special needs children and various other organisations yesterday participated in the celebrations.
India's Ambassador to Cairo Sanjay Bhattacharyya welcomed the guests during the celebration and spoke about the importance of practicing yoga.
"Yoga is wider than just an exercise, yoga seeks to liberate your mind and spirit. You will discover that yoga brings harmony and balance within us," the Ambassador said.
The celebration, held at Al-Azhar Park, kicked off with a video of Prime minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj speaking about the International Yoga Day.

"This event is going to be the biggest yoga event ever happened in Egypt," Acting Director of Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture Rakesh Kawra said.

The chief guest of the IDY was Imaage Ahmed, Miss Egypt Earth 2015.
"Yoga has become very popular all over the world because of its benefits that are not only physical but it improves the behaviour of yogis towards themselves and the nature as well," she said.
As per the Ambassador, yoga institutions and instructors have increased manifold in the past two years with more than 50 centres in Cairo alone.
The second International Day of Yoga will be celebrated in three cities in Egypt, including Cairo, Alexandria and Ismaila.