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Cape Town celebrates International Day of Yoga with a focus on wellness

Cape Town celebrates International Day of Yoga with a focus on wellness

IOL News2 days ago

Speaking ahead of the Yoga event, Consul General of India, Ruby Jaspreet reflected on the origins and global relevance of the day.
Cape Town will once again host a vibrant celebration of the International Day of Yoga on Saturday, with the Consulate General of India organising an event at the scenic Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. The 2025 celebration, themed 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health', marks the 11th edition of the global event, which continues to grow in scale and significance.
Speaking ahead of the occasion, Consul General of India, Ruby Jaspreet reflected on the origins and global relevance of the day. 'The idea for an International Day of Yoga was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly with the highest number of co-sponsors ever—more than 175,' she said. June 21, the summer solstice and longest day in the Northern Hemisphere, was chosen for its spiritual and seasonal symbolism.
Yoga, derived from the Sanskrit word meaning 'union,' is deeply rooted in India's ancient traditions, explained Jaspreet. 'It's a timeless practice that brings harmony between body and mind, and between humans and nature. In India, we see it as a holistic approach to wellness and spiritual growth, one that promotes the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—'the world is one family'.'

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Cape Town celebrates International Day of Yoga with a focus on wellness
Cape Town celebrates International Day of Yoga with a focus on wellness

IOL News

time2 days ago

  • IOL News

Cape Town celebrates International Day of Yoga with a focus on wellness

Speaking ahead of the Yoga event, Consul General of India, Ruby Jaspreet reflected on the origins and global relevance of the day. Cape Town will once again host a vibrant celebration of the International Day of Yoga on Saturday, with the Consulate General of India organising an event at the scenic Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. The 2025 celebration, themed 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health', marks the 11th edition of the global event, which continues to grow in scale and significance. Speaking ahead of the occasion, Consul General of India, Ruby Jaspreet reflected on the origins and global relevance of the day. 'The idea for an International Day of Yoga was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly with the highest number of co-sponsors ever—more than 175,' she said. June 21, the summer solstice and longest day in the Northern Hemisphere, was chosen for its spiritual and seasonal symbolism. Yoga, derived from the Sanskrit word meaning 'union,' is deeply rooted in India's ancient traditions, explained Jaspreet. 'It's a timeless practice that brings harmony between body and mind, and between humans and nature. In India, we see it as a holistic approach to wellness and spiritual growth, one that promotes the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—'the world is one family'.'

At least 265 dead in India plane crash, one passenger survives
At least 265 dead in India plane crash, one passenger survives

IOL News

time12-06-2025

  • IOL News

At least 265 dead in India plane crash, one passenger survives

People light candles as they take part in a prayer ceremony in Siliguri, India on Thursday for the victims of the plane crash in India's Ahmedabad city. Image: AFP A London-bound passenger jet crashed in a residential area in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing at least 265 people on board and on the ground - but one passenger is believed to have survived. An AFP journalist saw bodies being recovered from the crash site, and the back of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner -- which had 242 passengers and crew on board -- hanging over the edge of a building it hit around lunchtime. The government opened a formal investigation into the cause of the crash, and rescue teams worked into Friday morning scouring the charred wreckage with sniffer dogs. "The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after Air India's flight 171 crashed following takeoff. "It is heartbreaking beyond words". Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai told reporters said that "265 bodies have reached the hospital". That suggests that at least 24 people died when the jet ploughed into a medical staff hostel in a blazing fireball -- and that the toll may rise further as more bodies are located. But while all aboard the flight was initially feared killed, state health official Dhananjay Dwivedi told AFP "one survivor is confirmed" and had been hospitalised. The AFP journalist saw a building ablaze after the crash, with thick black smoke billowing into the air, and a section of the plane on the ground. "One half of the plane crashed into the residential building where doctors lived with their families," said Krishna, a doctor who did not give his full name. "The nose and front wheel landed on the canteen building where students were having lunch," he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ Krishna said he saw "about 15 to 20 burnt bodies", while he and his colleagues rescued around 15 students. India's civil aviation authority said two pilots and 10 cabin crew were among the 242 people on board. Air India said there were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian on board the flight bound for London's Gatwick airport. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the scenes from the crash were "devastating", while the country's King Charles III said he was "desperately shocked". The survivor is believed to be 40-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, one of the British passengers. India's Home Minister Amit Shah told reporters he had heard the "good news of the survivor". The BBC and Britain's Press Association news agency spoke to the reported survivor's family members. "He said, I have no idea how I exited the plane", his brother Nayan Kumar Ramesh, 27, told PA in the British city of Leicester. The plane issued a mayday call and "crashed immediately after takeoff", the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said. US planemaker Boeing said it was in touch with Air India and stood "ready to support them" over the incident, which a source close to the case said was the first crash for a 787 Dreamliner. The UK and US air accident investigation agencies announced they were dispatching teams to support their Indian counterparts. Tata Group, owners of Air India, offered financial aid of 10 million rupees ($117,000) to "the families of each person who has lost their life in this tragedy", as well as funds to cover medical expenses of those injured. India has suffered a series of fatal air crashes, including a 1996 disaster when two jets collided mid-air over New Delhi, killing nearly 350 people. In 2010, an Air India Express jet crashed and burst into flames at Mangalore airport in southwest India, killing 158 of the 166 passengers and crew on board. Experts said it was too early to speculate on what may have caused Thursday's crash. "It is very unlikely that the plane was overweight or carrying too much fuel," said Jason Knight, senior lecturer in fluid mechanics at the University of Portsmouth. "The aircraft is designed to be able to fly on one engine, so the most likely cause of the crash is a double engine failure. The most likely cause of a double engine failure is a bird strike." THE MERCURY

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