REPORT

CELEBRATION OF 3rd INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY

ON21 June, 2017

6:30 – 7:30 A.M.

AT

Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Gandhinagar, Permanent Institute ID 1-17764851

Via Indira Bridge, P.O.: Bhat-382428, Dist.: Gandhinagar,

GujaratPhone +91 - 79 - 23969151/53/63,

Fax +91-79-23969164Web Site: www.ediindia.ac.in/new/

www.ediindia.org

Yoga aims to transform both the body and the mind. Yoga is an ancient (about 5,000-year-old)

physical, mental and spiritual practice with its origin in India. ‘Yoga’ means to join or to unite,

symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.

On December 11 in 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21st as the

International Day of Yoga. The declaration came after the call for the adoption of June 21st as

International Day of Yoga by Hon’ble Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi during his

address to the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, wherein he stated that Yoga is an

invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and

action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to

health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with the self,

the world and the nature. In Suggesting June 21, which is the Summer Solstice, as the

International Day of Yoga, Shri Narendra Modi had said, “the date is the longest day of the year

in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.”

Yogi and mystic, Sadhguru notes the importance of this day in the yogic tradition. It is said that

on the day of the summer solstice, Adiyogi [the first yogi] turned south and first set his eyes on

the Saptarishis or Seven Sages, who were his first disciples to carry the science of yoga to many

parts of the world. And June 21 marks this momentous event in the history of humanity.

The 3rd International Day of Yoga 2017 is being celebrated across the world. As announced by

the Government of India and in compliance with MHRD & AICTE guidelines, Entrepreneurship

Development Institute of India (EDII) also celebrated the 3 rd International Day of Yoga on June

21st 2017 by organizing the following activities:

1. AN ADDRESS ON BENEFITS OF YOGA BY Ms. HETAL JADEJA FOLLOWED BY

TEACHING OF ASANAS TO PARTICIPANTS

All faculty and staff members and their families along with selected students assembled at the

EDII campus to celebrate the 3rd International Day of Yoga on June 21st 2017 at 6:25 A.M.

Dr. Kavita Saxena, Faculty and President, Staff Well-being Committee, EDII offered the

welcome address and requested the Director, EDII, to address the participants. The Director,

EDII, extended a warm welcome to all participants and shared his beliefs about yoga and its

tremendous power.

Ms. Hetal Jadeja, yoga trainer and expert, interacted with participants explaining them the

benefits of yoga for their overall health and well-being and also taught several useful asanas.

EDII Staff, Faculty, (their family members) and student participants had an opportunity to learn

varied yoga postures - anulom-vilom, padmasana, vajrasana, pranayama, kapalbhati,

padhastasana, trikonasana, marjari asana, madukasana, shavasana, suryanamaskara and so on.

Participants were also informed about benefits of each asana. Moreover, varied stretching

postures (sides, front and back stretching) were demonstrated explaining benefit of each posture.

Ms. Jadeja stressed on importance of a healthy life style and recommended yoga to remain

healthy and fit. All participants followed step by step procedures recommended for practicing

each asana and they were happy with their experiences. They were motivated to embrace yoga as

a daily practice for healthy living.

The event witnessed participation of two generations of family members.

2. THE COMMON YOGA PROTOCOL 2017, was downloaded and circulated well in

advance, among faculty, staff and students of the Institute to promote yoga.

3. EXHIBITION

An Exhibition on yoga was also organized in the Library. Banners and exhibited materials

created awareness among participants/visitors.

4. PRIZES FOR BEST THREE PERFORMERS

The Institute’s Staff Well-being Committee distributed prizes to the best three yoga performers

with an aim to encourage yoga practice.

After the yoga session all participants were offered light breakfast followed by working lunch.

Refer Appendix I for Pictures

APPENDIX I: PICTURES

ADDRESS ON BENEFITS OF YOGA

&

TEACHING OF ASANAS TO PARTICIPANTS

EDII Staff, Faculty, their Family members and Students assembled at the Institute for

International Yoga Day 2017 Celebration

Dr. Kavita Saxena, Faculty and President, Staff Wellbeing Committee, EDII, offering the Welcome Address to participants

Prof. Sunil Shukla, Director- EDII, addresing the participants on the event

Director-EDII, Faculty, Staff members practicing Omkara in Padmasana (the Lotus Pose) or Vjrasana

Ms. Jadeja addressing the participants

Participants practicing anulom-vilom (pranayama)

Participants performing meditation (Dhyana) and Omkara

Ms. Jadeja teaching Suryanamaskara to Participants

Ms. Jadeja teaching Suryanamaskara to Participants

Ms. Jadeja teaching Suryanamaskara to Participants

Prize Distribution to Best Three Performers

Dr. Satya Acharya, Faculty, EDII, proposing the Vote of Thanks

****