Sri Sri Ravi Shankar inaugurates Yoga Day celebrations in Netherlands

Spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar here today inaugurated the largest-ever celebration of International Day of Yoga in the Netherlands.

Several thousands have assembled at the prestigious Museumplein or museum square here to experience the day-long wellness festival organised at the initiative of the Embassy of India.

Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Ambassador of India to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony and Shankar inaugurated the event with the traditional lighting of the lamp, a statement issued by the Indian mission here said.

A group session of traditional Indian yoga was followed by a talk and meditation session led by the spiritual guru, it said.

Later in the day the yoga demonstrations will be interspersed with cultural programmes of Indian dance and music.

Well known Dutch yoga teacher, Johan Noorloos of the New Yoga School, Amsterdam will conduct a workshop followed by Patty Jogenmaets of Dolfijn Wellness Amsterdam who will lead a special family yoga session for elders and children.

At the promotional stall of the Tea Board of India, guests will have the opportunity to taste different types of India tea such as Darjeeling, Assam, Sikkim & Nilgiris, the statement said.

Jet Airways will have a raffle for two return tickets from Amsterdam to one of their destinations in India, it said.

The grand finale in the evening will be a music concert called "The Soul Shanti Concert" featuring violin maestro L Subramaniam and Bollywood playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy.

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated every year from 2015 to 2017 at the Atrium of the City Hall of the Hague with around 1,000 people participating.

This year it is an al fresco event in Museumplein, which is the museum quarter and the cultural hub of the city.