Explorer

Saudi Arabia approves yoga as sports activity

Yoga has been promoted in a big way by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with concerted efforts by the government, the United Nations has also declared June 21 as 'International Yoga Day'.

NEW DELHI: The Saudi Arabian government has approved the practice of yoga as a sports activity, claimed a social media post of Nouf Marwaai, founder of the Arab Yoga Foundation in the Saudi kingdom. "Yoga, which literally means 'union'. A union of individual with ones wellbeing, a body to mind, emotions & soul, nation to globe has officially arrived at the sea shore of Saudi Arabia. It has crossed the boundaries of fundamentalism...ideological extremism," she said in a Facebook post dated November 12. However, the account is not verified by the social media site. She also wrote that since, its inception in Saudi, "Yoga has observed a topsy-turvy path, with me as a medium. God gave me strength to fight all difficulties, real difficulties. God was with me as an observer and infused courage in me whenever required. Here is a day, that finally practicing yoga is no more a deviant behaviour in Saudi." She also thanked the Indian Government and the Consulate General for "unlimited" support. This development comes at a time when many Muslims in India and elsewhere are under pressure from their religious leaders not to practice yoga which they claim is "un-Islamic". Last week, Rafia Naaz, a woman yoga teacher in Ranchi, was allegedly threatened by members of her community after she performed yoga. Yoga has been promoted in a big way by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with concerted efforts by the government, the United Nations has also declared June 21 as 'International Yoga Day'.
View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headline

Mukhtar Ansari Death: UP Court Orders Probe After Son Claims Father 'Poisoned' In Jail — Top Points
Mukhtar Ansari Death: UP Court Orders Probe After Son Claims Father 'Poisoned' In Jail — Top Points
I.N.D.I.A Bloc In Bihar: Here's How Congress, RJD Have Decided To Share Seats After JD-U's Exit
I.N.D.I.A Bloc In Bihar: Here's How Congress, RJD Have Decided To Share Seats After JD-U's Exit
'System Ki Dhajjiyan Uda Rahen Hain': Hardeep Puri Jabs Kejriwal At ABP Shikhar Sammelan 2024
'System Ki Dhajjiyan Uda Rahen Hain': Hardeep Puri Jabs Kejriwal At ABP Shikhar Sammelan 2024
'BJP Should Pay Rs 4,600 Crore': Congress Slams Income Tax Dept, ECI After Getting Rs 1,700-Crore Notice
'BJP Should Pay Rs 4,600 Crore': Congress Slams Income Tax Dept, ECI After Getting Rs 1,700-Crore Notice
Advertisement
for smartphones
and tablets

Videos

Hot News: Jay Bhanushali Wear's Wife Mahi's Pink Maxi, Daughter Gets EntertainedHot News: Shivani Joshi's Special Birthday Post For Kushal Tandon Is A Testament To True FriendshipMukhtar Ansari's Death: Post-Mortem Conducted In Banda, VideotapedABP Shikhar Sammelan 2024: Anurag Thakur Stresses That No Election Comes Without Challenges

Photogallery

Embed widget