Bahrainis embrace Yoga Day event

Talking to The Daily Tribune, they said they regularly attend fitness centres in the evenings to practise Yoga but came to the Bahrain Old Fort to be part of the event. Practising Yoga has helped them blend their spiritual feelings with the environment, they said.

Despite the cultural differences between the ancient Indian practise and the belief system in the region, the natives who were at the event said they are able to achieve physical and mental healing through Yoga.

"As a Bahraini, I am really proud to be a part of the event. These initiatives shouldn’t stop," Mahmood Alaraibi, one of the leaders of the team that organised the event, said. "We are nothing without unity. I admire the leadership’s vision to promote Yoga," he added.

This year, the event was held under the theme "One World, One Family". Mohiuddin Kayes, counsellor and head of chancery at the Bangladesh embassy in Bahrain told The Daily Tribune, "This event is all about peace and harmony between all cultures. It mesmerised me and my team.’’ Participants practised a two-hour Yoga session.

The event was held with the support of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) and in association with The Art of Living Bahrain and other Indian community organisations.

Ihjas Aslam, Charge d’Affaires at the Indian Embassy, thanked the leadership, BACA, the government, and the people of Bahrain for their unwavering support.