Special events to mark Int'l Yoga Day in 3 Egytian cities

Special events will be organised in three cities across Egypt to mark the International Yoga Day, as the number of schools teaching the ancient Indian spiritual discipline grew three times within a year in the Arab country.
The celebrations to mark the second Yoga Day will begin at Cairo's Al-Azhar park on June 21.
"Given the very huge popularity, we shall host events in Ismailia on June 23, and we are making arrangements for the (Yoga Day) to be held in Alexandria possibly on the June 25," India's Ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharyya said.
He said the number of schools teaching Yoga in Egypt has grown three times in the past one year. Last year, Yoga Day celebrations were held at the India House in Zamalek, where a large number of people participated.

But as the number of participants grew further, the embassy chose to held this year's celebration at an open place like Al-Azhar park to accommodate a large number of people.
"We have noticed a strong growth in yoga practitioners in Egypt over the last year, both in popularity and expertise of Yogis. We are proud of Egypt's support to Yoga Day.

"This has encouraged us to reach out wider to students and other groups and to host the event in a large public park in Cairo and to Alexandria and Ismailia for the first time," Bhattacharyya told reporters at the embassy's Tagore Hall, outlining the preparations being made for the special events.

He said a larger number of schoolchildren will participate in the Yoga Day this year.
"We have children coming from five institutions so we are very happy that a large number of children will be joining us at the IDY," the ambassador said.
Throughout the world, people will be performing a Common Yoga Protocol on June 21. The Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture in Cairo will organise four Yoga sessions on Common Yoga Protocol on June 4, 6, 11, and 13 at its premises.
"The essence of Yoga - as you all know - is to achieve a harmony within yourself initially and then between yourself and the environment around... And it could become an essential in which we conduct our life with greater understanding and tolerance while we pursue our own peace," the ambassador said.

The embassy is also organising a Yoga Championship.
Bhattacharyya also said that in the run-up to the Yoga day on June 21, the embassy has organised an online photography competition titled 'Yoga in Egypt'.