As India marks her 75 years of Independence, the Government of India has chosen Suriname as one of the 80 countries for the Guardian Ring programme for the celebration of the 8th International Day of Yoga and covering the event live to join a relay telecast worldwide on India’s national broadcaster Doordarshan on June 21, 2022, from 3.00 am to 10.00 pm.
The underlying principle for the Guardian Ring programme is ‘One Earth One Sun’ to symbolize the oneness that Yoga represents and to sync with this year’s theme ‘Yoga for Humanity’. The Guardian Yoga Programme envisaged paying salutation to the Sun in each country as the Sun progresses from the East to the West.
Accordingly, the Embassy of India in Paramaribo celebrated the International Day of Yoga with the support of the Government of Suriname on 21 June 2022 at the Event Center of Assuria High Rise Building from 08.30 hrs to 0945 hrs. The President of Suriname H.E. Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi was the Chief Guest. The programme began with a lighting of a traditional lamp by the First Lady and the President, Ambassador Dr. Shankar Balachandran and his spouse, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation H.E. Ambassador Albert Ramchand Ramdin, Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Mr. Silvano Tjong-Ahin and Pandit Nitin Jagbandhan accompanied by a Vedic Chant by Pandit Nitin Jagbandhan and Pt. Aashish Mathura. After the national anthems of both countries and a dance presentation by the students of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Ambassador Dr. Shankar Balachandran welcomed the guests. The President of Suriname H.E. Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi addressed the worldwide viewers of Doordarshan and the gathering, alternating between Hindi and English. This was followed by a performance of Yoga by all participants. The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Mr. Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Second Secretary.
About 400 guests attended the programme including members of diplomatic corps and international organisations, Members of Parliament, Senior Civil Servants, Indian nationals and diaspora and school students.