International Day of Yoga: celebrating unity and wellness in Durban
High profile endorsements
International Day of Yoga will be observed on Saturday.
Image: Supplied
The 11th annual International Day of Yoga, set to take place at the Durban Amphitheatre on Saturday, has received a wave of goodwill messages from across South Africa’s political, diplomatic, and civic leadership.
Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu, the President of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation and chief organiser of the event, said: "High-profile endorsements include those from His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini; KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli; the Speaker of the KZN Legislature; national and provincial health leaders; and South Africa High Commissioner to India, Bangladesh and Nepal, Professor Anil Sooklal."
He added that His Majesty King Makhosonke Mabhena and Her Royal Highness Queen Sekuthali Mabhena from the Amandebele Kingdom had confirmed their attendance yesterday.
Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu said the event was expected to draw more than 5 000 yoga practitioners under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health, and Oneness”.
"The annual observance will showcase how yoga has grown from a once-niche pursuit into a mainstream lifestyle, embraced across race, culture, and generation in post-apartheid South Africa.
"Clad in white, yellow, and green shirts to symbolise peace, energy, and the environment, participants from schools, universities, temples, mosques, churches, community and private studios will create a collective canvas of wellness and mindfulness on Saturday.
"It is going to be a scenario of children, youth and elders practising side-by-side. 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."
He said this year's event promised to be more than an exercise in yoga.
"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. International Day of Yoga is becoming a living statement of intent, that wellness is not a privilege but a right, that health is a collective effort, and that cultural diversity can be a source of harmony rather than division."
The event, which is free, will be held from 9am until noon.