Indian High Commissioner: Yoga has nothing to do with any religion

Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives Rajeev Shahare has thanked Maldivians for their support for the International Yoga Day activities, and said that yoga has nothing to do with any religion.

Shahare made this remark while speaking at an event at Artificial Beach on Sunday night to mark the end of the International Yoga Day activities in Malé.

Shahare said that yoga is very much part of the Indian culture, and it is a practice that unites the mind, the body, and the soul.

“Even WHO says that the healthy person is not just the physical health, but also the mental health – it’s the complete well-being of mental and physical faculties of a human being. Yoga goes beyond that, it also brings the soul aspect of it into it. It is very secular. It has nothing to do with any religion or anything, it’s a very secular way of practising one’s wellness and well-being,” Shahare said.

Over 150 people participated in the activities held in Malé and Vilingili on Sunday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon was the Chief Guest and Minister of Health Iruthisham Adam was the Guest of Honour at the closing ceremony on Sunday night.