Yoga for unity: Durban gears up for the 11th International Yoga Day
Bridging cultural divides
A previous event at the amphitheatre along Durban's beachfront.
Image: Supplied
Next Saturday, the amphitheatre along Durban's beachfront will play host to the 11th International Yoga Day, a much-anticipated event that aims to bridge cultural divides through the practice of yoga.
More than 3 000 practitioners are expected to come together under the auspices of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation, highlighting the global and inclusive nature of this ancient discipline.
This year's theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health, and Oneness,” encapsulates a vision of collective wellness that transcends racial, cultural, and generational boundaries.
“It is going to be a scenario of children, youth, and elders practising side by side,” said Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu, president of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation.
“Healthcare workers, local yoga instructors, diplomats, and township-based wellness advocates will all move to the same breath, symbolising unity amid diversity — an echo of South Africa’s constitutional promise and rainbowism.”
The event promises to be a significant gathering, attended by a host of dignitaries, including KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, Health Minister Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, local councillors, Hindu religious leaders, and Zulu cultural ambassadors.
“This year’s event promises to be more than an exercise in yoga," Mabheka Zulu added.
"It will be a strategic convergence of identity, diplomacy, and development. Yoga is not Indian, Zulu, Christian, or Hindu. It is universal. It is a spiritual and health gift to all humanity.”
Participants can look forward to a morning of peace and unity, as the event will run from 8am to noon. For further details about International Yoga Day, interested readers can visit www.sivanandaworldpeacefoundation.co.za.