Dr. El-Minshawy and Major General Dr. Hisham Abu Al-Nasr witness the launch of a workshop to celebrate the International Day of yoga with the participation of the Indian Ambassador

- Major General Dr. Hisham Abu Al-Nasr: we are looking forward to expand cooperation with India in various fields including yoga in youth centers

- Rector: we cherish our partnership with the Indian Embassy and seek to deepen cultural cooperation

- Dr. El-Minshawy: the event embodies the role of the University in consolidating civilizational dialogue and promoting cultural exchange

- Dr. El-Minshawy: yoga is an authentic sport that contributes to achieve psychological balance and quality of life

- Indian ambassador: well-established civilizational relations between Egypt and India.. Assiut is a promising investment destination

  Dr. Ahmed El-Minshawy, president of Assiut University, and Major General Dr. Hisham Abu Al-Nasser, governor of Assiut, witnessed the launch of the "eleventh International Yoga Day" Workshop, which was organized by the embassy of India in Cairo in cooperation with the Indian Cultural Center, in conjunction with the annual celebration of the International Yoga Sports Day, on Tuesday, June 17.

The event was attended by Ambassador Suresh Reddy, ambassador of the Republic of India to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Dr. Baraka Chowdhury, Indian cultural consultant and director of the Maulana Azad Indian Cultural Center.

The workshop was held in the covered Hall of the Olympic Village at Assiut University, in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Abdul-Mola, vice president of the University for education and Student Affairs, Dr. Jamal Badr, vice president of the University for graduate studies and research, Dr. Emad Samir, dean of the College of Sports Sciences, Dr. Ahmed Salah Qora, supervisor of the Olympic Village, professor Shawkat saber, Secretary General of the University, Dr. Rehab Amr Hassan, director of the Office of international student welfare, and Dr. Haitham Ibrahim, Director General of student welfare, along with a number of administrative leaders at the University and the governorate, university students, and students from India studying at Assiut University.

Dr. Ahmed El-Minshawy, president of Assiut University, expressed his happiness that the University hosted a yoga workshop to celebrate its eleventh International Day, in cooperation with the embassy of the Republic of India and the Maulana Azad Indian Cultural Center, welcoming Ambassador Suresh Reddy, Dr. Baraka Chowdhury and all attendees. He also extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to Major General Dr. Hisham Abu Al-Nasser, governor of Assiut, praising his continuous support to the University and his keenness to strengthen cooperation with it, stressing the University's keenness to actively engage in various community initiatives, provide scientific and technical support, organize convoys and awareness-raising activities that contribute to the development of society and support the efforts of the state towards sustainable development.

  Major General Dr. Hisham Abu Al-Nasser, governor of Assiut, expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to Assiut University, headed by Dr. Ahmed El-Minshawy, for hosting and organizing the distinguished workshop on yoga, praising what the university represents as a leading scientific Beacon that contributes to serve the community and raising the awareness of its members. He also stressed the importance of yoga sports because of its effective role in supporting mental and physical health, and achieving psychological and physical balance, pointing out that the governorate seeks to spread its practice in youth and sports centers, in line with the state's vision of Human building and achieving sustainable development.

The governor of Assiut pointed out the keenness of the governorate to open wider horizons for fruitful cooperation with the Indian side in a number of fields, including industry, agriculture, small arts and crafts and waste recycling projects, stressing the importance of discussing opportunities for the development of the film industry and the implementation of joint cultural and artistic activities, including the establishment of filming locations for Indian films within Assiut Governorate.

The president of Assiut University stressed that the University's hosting of this distinguished workshop is a confirmation of its role as an academic institution open to the world, seeking to consolidate the concepts of Civilizational Communication and cultural exchange with different peoples and cultures, pointing to the University's pride in its international relations and its active societal and cultural role.
 
Dr. El-Minshawy also pointed out that yoga is one of the ancient sports that represents a unique combination of inner peace, psychological balance and overall health of the body, mind and spirit, and its practice contributes to relieve stress and achieve psychological balance, which reflects on the quality of human life and stability.

The president of Assiut University explained that the United Nations has approved since 2014 to consider June 21 of each year as an International Yoga Day, based on a proposal submitted by the Republic of India, and supported by 177 countries, including the Arab Republic of Egypt, in recognition of the high human, health and spiritual value of this sport.

Dr. El-Minshawy expressed his deep appreciation for the fruitful cooperation with the embassy of the Republic of India, praising the efforts exerted in promoting cultural understanding between the Egyptian and Indian peoples, stressing that Assiut University is proud to be part of this effort that consolidates common human values, wishing all participants in this workshop a rich and inspiring experience, and more constructive cooperation between the University and Indian cultural and diplomatic institutions.

The president of Assiut University also extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to all those organizing today's events for their sincere effort and distinguished organization, reflecting Assiut University's commitment to support purposeful cultural and sports activities that raise human awareness, promote the values of understanding and peace, and psychological and physical balance.

 For his side, ambassador Suresh Reddy expressed his great happiness with his first visit to Assiut Governorate, thanking Major General Hisham Abu Al-Nasr, governor of Assiut, and Dr. Ahmed El-Minshawy, president of Assiut University, for the warm reception and hospitality.

The Indian ambassador stressed that Egypt and India have long-standing civilizational and cultural relations throughout history, pointing out that both countries have ancient civilizations that have contributed to enriching the global human heritage, adding that yoga is one of the most prominent elements of Indian culture, because of its multiple health and psychological benefits, calling on everyone to practice it regularly as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Ambassador Suresh Reddy also welcomed the strengthening of joint cooperation frameworks with Assiut Governorate and Assiut University in a number of areas of mutual interest, foremost of which are agriculture, industry, renewable energy and technology, stressing that Assiut is a promising destination for Indian investments in these vital sectors.

At the end of his speech, the Indian Ambassador sincerely thanked Assiut University for its continuous support and hosting more than 90 Indian students studying at its medical colleges, praising the distinguished scientific environment provided by the university that contributes to strengthen educational and cultural relations between the two peoples.

The workshop included the presentation of a number of presentations and applied trainings for yoga sports, organized by the Maulana Azad Indian Cultural Center, under the supervision of Indian trainer solanka, and included an artistic presentation of "flash mob yoga" – a collective review of yoga to the tune of music – in addition to the presentation of the Yoga Protocol, which included various motor trainings with the participation of university students, with the aim of introducing the psychological and physical benefits of this sport and spreading its culture among young people.

The workshop witnessed the exchange of Honor Shields, where Dr. Ahmed El-Minshawy, president of Assiut University, and Major General Hisham Abu Al-Nasr, governor of Assiut, presented two commemorative shields to Ambassador Suresh Reddy, ambassador of the Republic of India to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and ambassador Suresh Reddy presented the embassy shield and the International Yoga Day shield to both Major General Hisham Abu Al-Nasr and Dr. Ahmed El-Minshawy.