International Yoga Day 2024

In June 2024, for the 10th anniversary of International Yoga Day, BSDC partnered with Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan, the Consulate General of India in Birmingham and with other health and wellbeing organisations to host a month-long series of activities held across 17 locations engaging communities from the North of England before culminating in a grand Yoga Day Celebration at Birmingham’s Centenary Square, where 300 enthusiasts gathered to practice yoga.

2024 to 2025

Throughout the month, we engaged with 1300 people, 700 of which included experienced yoga practitioners, beginners, artists, children, university students and older adults. As an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation, this initiative aligned perfectly with our mission to engage and develop new audiences whilst delivering against the ACE Let's Create strategy. We aimed to create a platform where everybody could benefit from creativity and culture, ultimately enhancing quality of life wherein yoga served as a gateway to combine arts and culture with health and wellbeing.

Incorporating the guidelines provided by Yoga Ayush in their Yoga protocol, the sessions were designed to foster a deeper appreciation for Indian arts and promote holistic well-being. Our movement sessions were accompanied with live tabla music by Aniruddha Mukherjee, who provided participants with an introduction to Classical North Indian music.

Yoga across the North

Roundhay

Stage@Leeds

Kirkstall

Durham University

Welcoming the Consulate General of India, Birmingham to Leeds

A celebration and culmination in Birmingham’s Centenary Square

Full list of dates

Dancers

Bobak Champion
Devika Rao
Kade Ferraiolo

Musicians

Aniruddha Mukherjee

Photographers

Balbir Singh
Bill Media
Devika Rao
Consulate General of India, Birmingham