Indian Embassy Hosts Yoga Session At Lincoln Memorial For IDY

Photo: X/@IndianEmbassyUS

India-West Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC (ANI)-  In a colorful prelude to the 11th International Day of Yoga, the Indian Embassy organized a well-attended yoga session at the historic Lincoln Memorial here on June 19. The event drew a large crowd, including members of the Indian diaspora and local American residents, all gathered to celebrate India’s ancient tradition.

India’s Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, addressed the participants, calling the morning “a wonderful experience” and “a fun-filled celebration of India’s ancient civilizational heritage in the form of yoga.” He added, “A large number of extended Indian families and members of the diaspora are present with us, along with other citizens of the U.S. I want to thank everyone for being here this morning to celebrate this gift from India.”

The session was led by Acharya Govind Brahmachari, a yoga and meditation instructor, who reminded participants that yoga is not just about physical movement. “Yoga postures are only one part of a much deeper system designed to free the mind and help us experience oneness with the universe,” he said. “The goal is emotional balance and inner freedom.”

Adding to the spiritual context, Acharya Madhuvartanand Avdhut of the Ananda Marga Yoga and Meditation Centre spoke about the roots of yoga, citing Lord Shiva as the first yogi some 7,000 years ago. He emphasized yoga’s threefold path—Asana (postures), Darshan (philosophy), and Sadhana (practice)—as a holistic approach to individual well-being and global harmony.

This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” underscores the vital connection between human and planetary health. It reflects India’s age-old belief in “Sarve Santu Niramaya”—“May all be free from disease.”