VOL. 22 NO. 25 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 • P.O. BOX 623 • SUGAR LAND,TX 77487 • PERIODICAL PERMIT USPS 017699 • 25 CENTS

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International Day of Yoga at Discovery Green, Houston

At least 500 people participated in the second International Day of Yoga on Tuesday, 21 June at 6: 30 p.m. at Discovery Green, Houston Downtown. The program was organized by the Consulate General of India, Houston in association with the Pralaya Yoga Studio Houston and several other community organizations.

Photo by SHARAD AMIN

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA 2016 IN HOUSTON

June 21, 2016 marked the second annual International Day of Yoga. A crowd of more than 500 gathered beneath the post-rain blue sky and downtown skyscrapers to celebrate the occasion. Discovery Green in part-nership with the Consulate General of India and Pralaya Yoga presented the free event.

“Yoga is now an important worldwide practice for the promotion of health and harmony,” Houston’s new Consul General Anupam Ray said to the crowd before the yoga session began.

A 50-minute session consisting of yoga poses, meditation, and breath-ing exercises brought palpable serenity to the urban park. “This relax-ation, these feelings of love and peace…they are available to you anytime with some practice,” Pralaya Yoga Creator, Robert Boustany, encouraged the crowd.

The celebration concluded with a stunning visual: 200 pounds of color powder being tossed into the air. One little yogi succeeded in her quest to be covered in pink powder only. This event wass one of thousands that was happening around the world .

On 11 December 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21st June as the International Day of Yoga receiving broad support from 177 member states, including USA.

The declaration came after the call for the adoption of 21st June as In-ternational Day of Yoga by Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi during his address to UN General Assembly on 27 September 2014.

Consulate General of India, Houston organized the event in close coor-dination with Patanjali Yogpeeth USA, Hindus of Greater Houston, Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh, VYASA Houston, Sanathan Hindu Center, Sam-skriti, Center for Indian Performing Arts, Ekal Vidyalaya, ISHA Founda-tion, India House, Ismaili Council, Art of Living, SEWA , Sri Meenakshi Temple Society, Texas Yoga Association, Gujarati Samaj of Houston and India Culture Center of Houston..

Vishwarupa of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthanam leads the audience in a yoga session.

Playing with colors.. after the yoga session.

From left, Shekhar Agrawal (Master of Ceremony / Patanjali Yoga Peeth), Robert Boustany (Pralay Yoga & Main Instructor),Vipin Kumar (India House), Murad Ajani (Agakhan Council),Thara Narsimhan (Sanatan Hindu Center), Rajiv Bhavsar (India Culture Center, Saheen Vora , Indian Muslim of Greater Houston, Gita Bhatia (Art of Living), Jennifer Buergermeister (Texas Yoga ), Jugal Malani (Patanjali Yoga Peeth),Swatantra Jain (JVB Preksha Meditation), Anupam Ray ( Consulate General of India, Houston), Pankaj Desai (Ekal Vidyalay Foundation), Durga Agrawal (Agrawal Association), Anuja Deshpande (Sewa International USA), Lakshmi Narayana Kruella (Hindu Swayam Sewak Sangh), Madhukar Adi (VYASA), Partha Krishnaswamy ( Hindus of Greater Houston, Arvind (ISHA) and Suresh Patel (Gujarati Samaj of Houston).

PHOTOS by dronforcestudios