Dhaka: Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday celebrated the third International Day of Yoga at Bangabandhu National Stadium with around 4,000 participants.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury attended the event as the chief guest while State Minister for Sports Dr Biren Sikder and Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla were also present during the occasion.

Around 4,000 participants including celebrities, singers, sports personalities and senior journalists took part in the programme.

A video message of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also shared with the participants at the beginning of the event. The event lasted for around two hours beginning from 7:00am.

A curtain raiser event has already been held with celebrities, yoga gurus and enthusiasts at the High Commission of India.

The theme for the 2017 celebration, organised by the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, is ‘Yoga for Health.’ The theme highlights the fact that yoga can contribute in a holistic way to achieving equilibrium between mind and body.

On June 21, 2015, the first International Yoga Day celebration was organised at Rajpath in New Delhi.

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolising the union of body and consciousness.

Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.

Recognising its universal appeal, on December 11, 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131.

The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

The organisers believe that this approach to health and wellbeing can make a direct and useful contribution to humankind’s quest to achieve sustainable development and move towards lifestyles that are in harmony with nature.