The Netherlands witnesses biggest-ever yoga gathering

The Netherlands witnessed its biggest-ever yoga celebration, as around 3,000 people gathered for a whole day wellness festival, organised here ahead of the International Day of Yoga on Thursday.

The event, inaugurated yesterday by the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Venu Rajamony, Ambassador of India to the Netherlands, was marked by many firsts.

It was the first time yoga was being celebrated in Amsterdam, the biggest city and national capital of the Netherlands, the Indian Embassy, which organised the event, said in a statement today.

It was the biggest yoga celebration to be organised in the Netherlands till date and the first event to witness participation of a minister of the Dutch government and a leading spiritual guru from India, it said.

"It was also the first time such a major Indian event was being held in the prestigious venue of the Museumplein in front of the Rijksmuseum (national museum)," the statement said.

A large number of Dutch and Indian dignitaries as well as Ambassadors of various other countries also took part in the celebrations and the mass yoga demonstrations.

A special stall of the Tea Board of India provided an opportunity to taste different Indian teas while leading Dutch super market chain SPAR set up a children's nutrition zone and provided free energy drinks, the statement said.

The grand finale was a performance titled "The Soul Shanti Concert" by violin maestro L Subramaniam and Bollywood playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy which enthralled and captivated a large audience of around 1,500 people who sat on the lawns of the Museumplein.