International Yoga Conference in Durban: Celebrating Yoga’s Global Impact
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), along with the High Commission of India in Pretoria and the Consulate General of India in Durban, hosted a two-day International Yoga Conference at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, on June 27-28. The event was organized in collaboration with S-VYASA, a Deemed University in Bangalore, India, and the University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
The conference aimed to explore the connection between yoga and a healthy lifestyle, including personal hygiene, diet, and mental well-being. It also highlighted scientific evidence related to yoga, immunity, and respiratory health.
This was the sixth International Yoga Conference organized by ICCR, and the first one held in Africa. Previous conferences were held in New York (2018), London (2019), virtually (2021), Seoul (2022), and Germany (2023).
The inaugural session featured a welcome address by Professor Neil Anthony Koorbanally from the University of Kwazulu-Natal. High Commissioner of India in South Africa, Prabhat Kumar, and ICCR Director General, Kumar Tuhin, also spoke at the event. Other notable speakers included BR Ramakrishna, Pro-Chancellor of S-VYASA, and Thelma John David, Consul General in Durban.
The conference included presentations and panel discussions on topics like ‘Yoga in Africa: Current Status and Future Potential’ and ‘Yoga for Self and Society.’ Experts from various fields inspired attendees to integrate yoga into their daily lives for a balanced and peaceful world.
The event concluded with a summary by Dr. NK Manjunath, Vice Chancellor of S-VYASA, and a vote of thanks by ICCR Deputy Director General Abhay Kumar.
This year’s theme, ‘Yoga for Self and Society,’ emphasized yoga’s profound impact on mental, physical, and spiritual health. The conference also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Yoga, which was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and adopted by the United Nations in 2014.
