Yoga Day Celebrated at Taj Maldives

International Yoga Day was marked with serene celebrations at the iconic Taj Maldives Resort, as diplomats, tourists, and locals gathered to embrace the ancient Indian tradition. The event was jointly organized by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka and the Indian Cultural Center, reinforcing India’s cultural outreach in the Indian Ocean region.

Yoga Day, observed globally on June 21 each year, was officially adopted by the United Nations in 2014 following a proposal by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since then, it has been recognized across continents as a celebration of physical well-being, mental peace, and spiritual awareness.

However, the practice of yoga in certain countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, remains restricted in public due to concerns about its Hindu origins. In those countries, religious authorities have issued advisories discouraging participation among Muslims, citing incompatibility with Islamic beliefs.

The Maldives, an Islamic nation, has had its own complicated relationship with yoga. During the era of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), many Islamic scholars voiced strong opposition to the practice, viewing it as a religious activity linked to Hinduism. In fact, yoga-related events in the past were met with protests and calls for bans.

But under the current administration of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, there has been a noticeable shift. Many scholars who once opposed yoga now hold official positions within the government, and opposition to International Yoga Day has largely faded from public discourse.