Dubai: India’s latest fitness challenge craze on social media will see its real-life version during the 4th International Yoga Day celebrations being organised by the Indian Consulate in Dubai at Zabeel Park on Thursday.
The #HumFitTohIndiaFit [If we are fit, India will be fit] challenge was launched by India’s sports minister, Rajyavardhan Rathore, on May 22.
His call to netizens to post pictures and videos of how they keep themselves fit and challenge their friends to do the same on social media received an immense response with celebrities and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepting the challenge.
At the Dubai event, participants will get a chance to replicate the fitness poses posted by celebrities and win prizes.
The event includes onstage yoga, yoga posture and fitness competitions and sessions by various yoga schools, the consulate said.
Saudi Arabia’s first certified yoga instructor, Nouf Marwaai, who was honoured with Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards of India, will lead yoga enthusiasts in performing common yoga protocol.
Rajesh Jagasia, a software engineer-turned-international instructor of Art of Living, will lead a session in pranayama.
The entry will be free to the park through Gate 3 for the event that begins at 6pm.
Thirty schoolchildren from The Indian High School Dubai, The Millennium School and Ambassador School have been invited by Art of Living to perform a yoga dance which includes dance steps inspired by yoga postures, a coordinator said.
In Abu Dhabi, the Indian Embassy will host the Yoga Day celebrations at Umm Al Emarat Park from 6.30pm. Entry and parking will be free for all yoga lovers.
The Indian Workers’ Resource Centre will conduct a special yoga session for workers at the labour accommodation of Al Naboodah Group in Dubai.
Workers will be shown yoga-based exercises which they can practise within their limitation of time and economic constraints. It will be led by Dubai-based lifestyle consultant Dr Vishwas Chhabra, pioneer of SitFit Yoga.
The Yoga Day celebrations in the country, which began with a group yoga session in Al Arabi Sports Club in Umm Al Quwain on Wednesday, will continue across the UAE on Friday. The Indian Consulate’s Culture Wing will organise a programme titled “special yoga and pranayama session for individuals with determination”.
It will be conducted by Yoga 4 Life and Siddha Samadhi Yoga at the consulate’s auditorium at 10.30am.
The events in Northern Emirates will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah (4pm), Indian Association, Ajman (7pm), American University, Ras Al Khaimah (7pm), and Media Park Convention Centre, Fujairah (6.30pm).
