The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, will host "Yoga Bandhan" on June 17, 2025, as a signature event for the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025. This initiative aims to strengthen global cooperation through institution-to-institution connections in Yoga and facilitate people-to-people exchange. The event will bring together international Yoga leaders – academics, practitioners, authors, trainers, and studio founders – from countries including Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Denmark, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka and Argentina. Delegates will participate in campus tours, interactive sessions, cultural visits, and institutional dialogues, culminating in their participation in the IDY event on June 21, 2025. Key dignitaries from the Ministry of Ayush and ICCR will address the inaugural session. Yoga Bandhan seeks to foster long-term partnerships, promote cultural dialogue, and strengthen India's global leadership in Yoga.
Key Entities Referenced
Dr Sujata Cowlagi: Founder Director, Pragya Yoga and Wellness, Singapore.
Pragya Yoga and Wellness: Organization founded by Dr. Sujata Cowlagi.
Singapore: Country of origin for Dr. Sujata Cowlagi.
Prof. Geolyong Lee: Recipient of Distinguished Indologist Award 2019, South Korea.
South Korea: Country of origin for Prof. Geolyong Lee.
Mr Kugan Naidoo: Yoga Teacher, South Africa.
Ms Sivlutchime Naidoo: Yoga expert, South Africa.
South Africa: Country of origin for Mr. Kugan Naidoo and Ms. Sivlutchime Naidoo.
Mr Jose Maria Marquez Jurado Gopala: Renowned Yoga practitioner, Spain.
Spain: Country of origin for Mr. Jose Maria Marquez Jurado Gopala.
Mr Vimukthi Jayasundara: Film maker, critic and visual artist, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka: Country of origin for Mr. Vimukthi Jayasundara.
Ms Rocio Belen Bonacci: National Representative Deputy Chamber, Santa Fe Province, Argentina.
Santa Fe Province: Province in Argentina that Ms. Rocio Belen Bonacci represents.
Argentina: Country of origin for Ms. Rocio Belen Bonacci.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha: Secretary, Ministry of Ayush.
Ms Monalisa Dash: Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush.
Ms K. Nandini Singla: Director General, ICCR.
ICCR: Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
Dr Kashinath Samagandi: Director, MDNIY.
21 June 2025: Date of the grand IDY event.
MVAKS Release ID: 2136777: Release identification number.
Russia: Country of origin for Irina Fursova.
AYUSH Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga: Organization hosting the Yoga Bandhan event.
Yoga Bandhan: Event being organized by AYUSH Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga as part of the International Day of Yoga celebrations.
16 JUN 2025: Date of the press release or notification.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - Source of the information.
Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga MDNIY: Full name and abbreviation of the institute organizing the Yoga Bandhan event.
Ministry of Ayush: Government ministry associated with the event.
Government of India: The government under which the Ministry of Ayush operates.
17 June 2025: Date of the Yoga Bandhan event.
International Day of Yoga IDY 2025: The event that Yoga Bandhan is a part of; also indicates the year.
10 Signature Events: Yoga Bandhan is one of ten key events related to IDY 2025.
Mr Josh Pryor: President CEO of Yoga Australia.
Yoga Australia: Organization led by Mr. Josh Pryor.
Australia: Country of origin for Mr. Josh Pryor.
Mr Gregor Kos: Senior representative from Yoga in Daily Life, Austria.
Yoga in Daily Life: Organization represented by Mr. Gregor Kos.
Austria: Country of origin for Mr. Gregor Kos.
Professor Danilo Forghieri Santaella: Head of Research and Academic Supervisor, Sports Center, University of So Paulo, Brazil.
University of So Paulo: University affiliated with Professor Danilo Forghieri Santaella.
Brazil: Country of origin for Professor Danilo Forghieri Santaella.
Ms Yin Yan: Founder of Yogi Yoga, China.
Yogi Yoga: Organization founded by Ms. Yin Yan.
China: Country of origin for Ms. Yin Yan.
Maj IngemannMolden: Yoga expert, Denmark.
Denmark: Country of origin for Maj IngemannMolden.
Mr Slamat Riyanto: Chairperson, Indonesian National Association of Yoga Practitioners PPYNI, Indonesia.
Indonesian National Association of Yoga Practitioners PPYNI: Organization led by Mr. Slamat Riyanto.
Indonesia: Country of origin for Mr. Slamat Riyanto.
Mrs Vidya Volkova: Director, Shakti Yoga Studio, Kazakhstan.
Shakti Yoga Studio: Organization led by Mrs. Vidya Volkova.
Kazakhstan: Country of origin for Mrs. Vidya Volkova.
Mr Manisekaran: Founder, Malaysian Yoga Society and Malaysian Association of Yoga Instructors, Malaysia.
Malaysian Yoga Society: Organization founded by Mr. Manisekaran.
Malaysian Association of Yoga Instructors: Organization founded by Mr. Manisekaran.
Malaysia: Country of origin for Mr. Manisekaran.
Mrs Sinthamani Arunasalam: CoFounder, AKSINOM Yoga, Malaysia.
AKSINOM Yoga: Organization co-founded by Mrs. Sinthamani Arunasalam.
Irina Fursova: Yoga Therapist, Russia.
AYUSH
Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga to organise
‘Yoga Bandhan’ tomorrow
Leaders in the field of Yoga from across the world
unite: Reflects India’s commitment to strengthening
global cooperation through building institution- to -
institution connections in Yoga
Posted On: 16 JUN 2025 7:24PM by PIB Delhi
Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, will organise
‘Yoga Bandhan’ on 17 June 2025, as part of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 celebrations. This
initiative is one of the 10 Signature Events being promoted in connection with IDY-2025 and reflects India’s
commitment to strengthening global cooperation through building institution- to -institution connections in
Yoga.
This unique initiative emphasizes people-to-people exchange, bringing together international delegates who
are leaders in the field of Yoga—academicians, practitioners, authors, trainers, and studio founders—from
across the world.
Prominent international delegates attending the event include:
• Mr Josh Pryor, President & CEO of Yoga Australia, a Mysore Style Yoga practitioner, author and
studio-owner from Australia.
• Mr Gregor Kos, Senior representative from Yoga in Daily Life, Austria.
• Professor Danilo Forghieri Santaella, Head of Research and Academic Supervisor, Sports Center,
University of São Paulo, Brazil.
• Ms Yin Yan, Founder of Yogi Yoga, China.
• Maj Ingemann-Molden, Yoga expert, Denmark.
• Mr Slamat Riyanto, Chairperson, Indonesian National Association of Yoga Practitioners (PPYNI),
Indonesia.
• Mrs Vidya Volkova, Director, Shakti Yoga Studio, Kazakhstan.
• Mr Manisekaran, Founder, Malaysian Yoga Society and Malaysian Association of Yoga Instructors,
Malaysia.
• Mrs Sinthamani Arunasalam, Co-Founder, AKSINOM Yoga, Malaysia.
• Irina Fursova, Yoga Therapist; Hatha, Ayengar Yogateacher, Osteopathy Practitioner, Russia.
• Dr Sujata Cowlagi, Founder & Director, Pragya Yoga and Wellness, Singapore.
• Prof. Geo-lyong Lee, Recipient of Distinguished Indologist Award 2019, South Korea.
• Mr Kugan Naidoo, Yoga Teacher, South Africa• Ms Sivlutchime Naidoo, Yoga expert, South Africa.
• Mr Jose Maria Marquez Jurado (Gopala), Renowned Yoga practitioner, Spain.
• Mr Vimukthi Jayasundara, Film maker, critic and visual artist, Sri Lanka.
• Ms Rocio Belen Bonacci, National Representative (Deputy Chamber), Santa Fe Province, Argentina.
The inaugural session of Yoga Bandhan will feature key addresses by dignitaries including Vaidya Rajesh
Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush; Ms Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush; Ms K.
Nandini Singla, Director General, ICCR; and Dr Kashinath Samagandi, Director, MDNIY. Following the
inaugural programme, delegates will participate in a curated tour of the MDNIY campus and an interactive
session on communication and knowledge exchange.
These delegates will attend cultural visits and institutional dialogues. Their tour will culminate in their
participation in the grand IDY event on 21 June 2025. During their stay, they will also attend dedicated Yoga
sessions, discussions on integrative wellness, share experiences and explore collaborative opportunities with
Indian institutions.
Yoga Bandhan is a testament to India’s soft power and global leadership in the field of Yoga. By fostering
long-term institutional partnerships and nurturing cultural dialogue, the initiative serves as a bridge for
collective well-being, harmony, and deeper diplomatic engagement.
***
MV/AKS
(Release ID: 2136777)