Yoga-Tai Chi 'jugalbandi' marks International Day of Yoga in China

Beijing, June 21: A Yoga-Tai Chi "jugalbandi" at the iconic Great Wall was among the many events held in China on Tuesday to mark the second International Day of Yoga as thousands of enthusiasts of the ancient Indian spiritual discipline participated in the celebrations.

The Indian Embassy here in association with state-run Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, (CPAFFC) hosted yoga events at different places in the run up to the second UN International Yoga Day today.

A large group of enthusiasts of Yoga and ancient Chinese martial art Tai-Chi took part in a "Jugalbandi" exercises at the iconic Great Wall.

Counselor Culture of the Indian Embassy here Vanaja K Thekkat and four Indian Yoga teachers along with senior officials of the CPAFFC attended the event.

Earlier, visiting Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who is on a five-day visit to China joined Kundalini yoga enthusiasts at a hotel in central Beijing along with the charged'affaires of the Indian Embassy, B Bala Bhaskar, and members of his delegation and took part in the exercises.

Indian Consulates in Shanghai and Chengdu have been arranging a series of yoga events in a number of events culminating with similar events today. Ahead of the second UN Yoga Day, Yogi Yoga a well known Yoga centre established by an Indian and his Chinese wife has been selected by the China's Peking University to conduct research in yoga.

A Memorandum of Understanding in this regard has been signed. This is first time a Chinese university has come forward to do research in yoga. Local teachers trained by Yogi Yoga will take part in the research programme, he said.

Mohan along with his wife Yinyan, a former China editor of the Elle Magazine established the centre which has become immensely popular all over the China. Over the years, yoga has become popular all over China with all most all gyms conducting yoga classes.

Last year, China established first yoga college in assistance with India. Based in the Yunnan Minzu (Nationalities) University, the country's first yoga college has become popular with participation of over 3,000 people participating in free yoga sessions offered by the college. India has deputed yoga teachers to conduct training.

PTI