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2011 Commemoration

MORE THAN 1100 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED
YOGA WORLD’S DAY COMMEMORATIONS - 2011 - LISBOA

Organization by YOGA PORTUGUESE CONFEDERATION, with the support of
LISBOA CITY HALL, INATEL FOUNDATION and OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF PORTUGAL

Yoga World Day

Over 1100 practitioners in the Yoga World’s Day Commemorations - 2011 in Lisboa
performing a Super Ásana Sequence - Purusha Namaskára

First World Day Inter Ethnic, Inter Cultural and Inter Religious - Celebrating the Human DNA
Siza Vieira and Maria Barroso were among the personalities present

This celebration, a prime candidate for UNESCO to become a First Worldwide Holiday, brought together on June 26th in Lisbon more than 1000 adult participants and more than 150 children on this international initiative organized by the Yoga Portuguese Confederation. The renown Architect Siza Vieira, who on this day received the Gandhi / Sergio Vieira de Mello Award, and Maria Barroso - the godmother of the event, that recited a poem alluding Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, were some of the personalities who attended this day for World Peace which also had the participation and support of the major Yoga Masters in India, USA, Canada, North Africa, Egypt and Europe - France, Spain, Italy, England, Holland, Belgium, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, and Portugal, as well as representatives of the major World Religions, among other figures.

On the post day of June 26th the INATEL Stadium in Lisbon, was the stage for the Yoga World’s Day Commemorations, an initiative promoted by the Yoga Portuguese Confederation for over 10 years already, and which this year attracted more than 1100 adults practicing yoga, and more than 150 children, supporters and curious, coming from the North to the South of Portugal, from all origins and faiths.

Candidate at UNESCO to become the First Worldwide Holiday (celebrated on the Sunday immediately after if not coincident) – at the Solstice, June 21st - a Day of World Fraternity, Inter Ethnic, Inter Cultural and Inter Religious, and for 24hours without bloodshed in the World, counted with the participation and support of the main Yoga Masters in India, USA, Canada, North Africa, Egypt and Europe - France, Spain, Italy, England, Holland, Belgium, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, and Portugal, as well as representatives of the major World Religions , among other figures.

The Architect Siza Vieira and Dr. Maria Barroso, were some of the national personalities who attended this event, also supported by other prestigious entities such as the Lisbon City Hall, the Indian Embassy in Portugal, the INATEL Foundation, the Olympic Committee of Portugal, the High Commissioner for Immigration and Intercultural Dialogue, the Oriente Foundation, the Pro Dignitate Foundation, Youth Foundation, the Portuguese Youth Institute, CP - Trains of Portugal, Lisbon Tourism and the Hindu Community of Portugal, among others.

The major World's Religions for the first time together
to bless the World and this World Day

For the first time in the World representatives of the major religions joined hands in the name of peace, and blessed the planet together, in a firm commitment to appeal to their leaders to stop the bloodshed in Humanity (on behalf of a Creator God), emphasizing the richness of diversity, tolerance and to highlight what we have in common on behalf of Human Fraternity: Father Nuno Amador - Head of Pastoral University as spokesman of the Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon; H.H. Svámin Paramátmánanda Sarasvatí Mahá Raj – representative of Svámin Dayánandi Ji and Secretary General of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha - India; Jagat Guru Amrta Súryánanda Mahá Rája - President of the Yoga Portuguese Confederation; Sheikh David Munir - Imam of the Central Mosque of Lisboa; José Carp - President of the Jewish Community of Lisboa; Father José Salvador - President of the Synod of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal; Father Alexandre Bonito - Greek Orthodox / Constantinople Church; Shaykh Ahmad Dedé - Sufi Community (Netherlands); Dr. Isabel Correia - Portuguese Buddhist Union; Acharya Nitish Ji Trivédi - Hindu Community of Portugal; Palmira Bastos Ferreira - Baha'i Faith Community.

Throughout the day were several commemorative activities took place: a Mega Yoga Class, presentations of Kírtana by the Choir and Orchestra - OMKÁRA, Yoga Demonstrations by the PASHUPATI - Advanced Traditional Yoga Demonstrators Group for Adults and Children, and MÁYÁ – Didactic Amateur Theatre Group - all of the Yoga Portuguese Confederation, the Indian Dance of Indian School Dance of UK, Sitar Recital by Mr. Ajay Sharma - Director of Rikiram - India, presentations of International and National Yoga Schools such as ISKCON - Hare Krishna Movement, Brahma Kumaris, Kundaliní Yoga, Traditional Yoga Federation of France represented by its President Master André Riehl who made a presentation of Traditional Mantra of Yoga, the ancient practice of True Dynamic Sufi Meditation, a presentation of Tabla by Prof. Raimund Engelhard of Germany, the artistic Dance performance of Ave Maria of Gounod by Sandra Rosado the First Ballet Dancer of former Ballet Gulbenkian, among others.

The celebrations also emphasized the hard work of QUERCUS - National Association for Nature Conservation, APAV - Portuguese Association for Victim Support and ACAP - Association for the Blind and Partially Sighted of Portugal, with a Yoga class for blind people, on stage, showing a demonstration of this ancient practice.

A highlight for the morning, when the Yoga Portuguese Confederation awarded the Gandhi / Sergio Vieira de Mello Award, that each year emphasizes the work done for the Globally Fairness, Inter-Ethnic Equality and Fraternity, and Social Contribution.

The Architect Siza Vieira was the awarded of this year, after in 2010 the award being delivered to former President of the Republic Dr. Mario Soares. Also, the cartoonist Quino was awarded with the Gandhi / Sérgio Vieira de Mello award received by the Minister Jorge Diaz de Biasi, Argentine Consul in Portugal and representative of the Embassy of Argentina.

The Opening of the Yoga World’s Day for Children was made on stage with a Yoga demonstration for Children, followed by a special Yoga class dedicated to the more than one hundred and fifty children who went to the INATEL stadium.

The Grand Master H.H. Jagat Guru Amrta Súryánanda Ji Mahá Rája, President of Yoga Portuguese Confederation, told reporters that "the human race needs to have conscience that was born for a common DNA, needs to realize that has a Planet to care and that peaceful solutions and diplomacy should outweigh the conflicts, for us, for our descendants, so that our planet has a future, and so that Human Fraternity is full field." This is why "every year we do a mega Yoga class that expands consciousness, and has been attracting Grand Masters from India and from all the world," adding that "Yoga transmutes the DNA of each practitioner through decades of practice" and remembering that "this is the largest concentration of Yoga Masters outside of India.

Also to point out the presence of Their Holiness Svámin Paramátmánanda Sarasvatí and Svámin Samvidánanda - representing the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha of India, Dr. Bawa Jain - Secretary General of the Council of the World Religious Leaders, Svámin Anubhavánanda and Keivalyadhama Yoga Institute of India, Svámin Yadunandana representing ISKCON – Hare Krishna Movement of India, Dr. Nagendra - President of Vivekánanda Yoga University in Bengaluru - India and NASA scientist, the Reverend Master of European Yoga - Madame Eva Ruchpaul - Paris, France (one of the first European Yoga Masters), Master André Riehl - President of the French Federation of Traditional Yoga, Antoinette Layon Ambassador of the Francophone Federation of Canada, Marcus Freed representative of the Yoga Teachers Association of Jews of United States, Brahma Kumaris Mara Gomes representing H.H. B.K. Dadi Janki of India, Joana Cordeiro representing Shri Shri Ravi Shankar, the scientist Prof. Dr. Alex Hankey of UK, and Dr. Maria e Lurdes de Oliveira Castanheira - Mayor of Gois City Hall (who gave her testimony for celebrating this initiative also in the city of Gois). These distinguished Guest appeared not only on June 26th at the INATEL Stadium, but also on the previous day, on the Day of Sámkhya.

It was also awarded the Career Tribute Award to Professor António Pedro - the first Yoga Professor in Portugal - who in the 60's founded the Cairo Miranda Institute in Lisboa. This award in which the Yoga Portuguese Confederation distinguishes the oldest Yoga Teachers of Portugal and the World, was given by the hands of Professor Maria Emilia Costa and honored by the Reverend Master of European Yoga - Madame Eva Ruchpaul of France.

Philosophy Day – of Sámkhya and of Darshana (Saturday)
JUNTA DE FREGUESIA S. JOÃO DE BRITO

On the previous day (Saturday – 25th) and also as part of the celebrations of Yoga World’s Day was celebrated the Day of Philosophy - of Sámkhya and of Darshana. The event consisted of a set of Lectures by the Grand World Yoga Master, held in the Noble Salon of Junta de Freguesia de S. João de Brito, where were also present Prof. Dr. Paulo Borges - President of the Buddhist Union of Portugal, Dr. Antonio Faria - researcher in the field of Sciences of Religions, Mr. Luis Aires - Director and Lecturer at the Senior University, and experts in Samskrta (and Devanágari) from India.

The Fabulous PASHUPATI Presentation (Advanced Traditional Yoga Demonstration Group) evoking the creation of the universe (over 13 750 million years ago, the Big Bang - Mahá OM) with Advanced Ásana - during the Sámkhya and Darshana Day.

At night in a Conference of Astronomy in the Planetarium Calouste Gulbenkian a lecture was given by Professor. Dr. Máximo Ferreira, followed by the direct observation of the cosmos through professionals telescopes assigned by the Centro de Ciência Viva de Constância.

Reception of the Yoga Portuguese Confederation at the Lisboa City Hall

On the following Monday (27th) the delegation of the Great Schools and Masters of Yoga was received at the Lisboa City Hall by Councilman Manuel Brito of the Sport and Education Areas where it was noted that the Grand Master of Yoga H.H. Jagat Guru Amrta Súryánanda Ji Mahá Rája is an Ambassador of Portugal and of Intercontinental Peace around the planet.