New Delhi, Nov 14 (Only Kashmir): In a major boost to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s ambitious project of boosting Yoga, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday approved the ancient Indian practice as a sports activity. Earlier in April 2016, Modi was conferred with Saudi’s highest civilian honour by King Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Royal Court. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev while welcoming the Saudi government decision hoped that this will break the myth among the Muslim community.
The Saudi Ministry of Trade and Industry has listed Yoga under “sports activities”. This will now allow citizens of the Islamic kingdom to practice or propagate it by getting a licence from the government.
Two years ago, in 2015, after the United Nations declared June 21 as International Yoga Day, Indian diplomatic missions in Saudi had organized yoga sessions in many Indian schools there. Nouf Al Marwaai is the first credited Saudi woman teaching yoga and has been recognized as the driving force behind the development of yoga in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, welcoming the Saudi government decision to declare Yoga as a ‘Sports Activity’ Baba Ramdev said Saudi Arabia has taken a historic & scientific decision beyond religions, adding, this will break the myth among Muslim community and open the doors for peace & health for them.
Pertinently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 2016 was conferred the Arabian country’s highest civilian honour — the King Abdulaziz Sash. The prime minister was presented the award by King Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Royal Court on the night before his scheduled departure to New Delhi.
