Bharatiya Missions worldwide celebrate inaugural World Meditation Day

New Delhi. Bharatiya missions across the globe celebrated the inaugural World Meditation Day, emphasising the transformative power of meditation for mental and physical well-being.

At the United Nations, Bharat hosted the ‘Meditation for Global Peace and Harmony’ at the UN Trusteeship Council. Bharat’s Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, highlighted the ancient practice of Dhyana (meditation), describing it as a tool for achieving inner calm and harmony.

In Vientiane, the Indian Embassy in Laos marked the occasion in collaboration with Art of Living Laos and Holiday Inn Vientiane. Indian Ambassador to Laos, Prashant Agrawal, encouraged attendees to adopt meditation for peace, harmony, and personal well-being. Participants also practised simple meditation techniques during the event. In a social media post, the Embassy highlighted India’s role in the United Nations’ adoption of December 21 as World Meditation Day.

The Nepal Mission to the United Nations celebrated the day, underscoring Nepal’s spiritual heritage. The mission wrote that many saints and sages travelled to Nepal in their quest for truth, knowledge, and spiritual enlightenment. At a celebration hosted by Bharat at the UN, Nepal’s Permanent Representative Lok Thapa referred to Nepal as Tapobhumi and emphasised meditation’s potential to unite people, foster harmony, and build bridges between communities.

The Consulate General of Bharat in Sao Paulo held a meditation session at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), where Consul General Hansraj Singh Verma discussed meditation’s importance, and Dr. Luisa Gondim from Art of Living guided a short practice.

In Johannesburg, the Indian Embassy invited everyone to embrace mindfulness. The Embassy posted on social media that even a few minutes of mindfulness can make a big difference.

In Hong Kong, the Consulate General of Bharat extended wishes and encouraged the global community to cultivate inner peace and spread harmony through meditation.

The High Commission of Bharat in Sri Lanka also celebrated World Meditation Day at Mayurapathy Meditation Hall, Colombo. Along with the ICCR’s Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the High Commission of Bharat in Sri Lanka organised a morning meditation session celebrating the UN declaration of World Meditation Day on December 21.

The Consulate General of Bharat in Bhutan also celebrated World Meditation Day. The CGI Phuentsholing and Art of Living (Bhutan Chapter) hosted a guided meditation at Phuentsholing Central Park. More than 140 participants, including Bhutanese dignitaries and the Indian community, joined to promote peace and harmony.

The Indian Embassy in Argentina announced plans to celebrate World Meditation Day with a blend of yoga, gastronomy, and Indian culture.

These celebrations underscored the universal appeal of meditation as a pathway to peace, well-being, and global harmony.