EMBASSY OF INDIA

BAMAKO, MALI

Bamako

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Press Release

Celebration of International Day of Yoga 2025 in Mali

The Embassy of India in Bamako, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in charge of Civil Education and Citizenship Construction of Mali, hosted a grand and memorable celebration of the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21, 2025. The main event, held at the Ouezzin Coulibaly Stadium, Bamako witnessed a massive and enthusiastic turnout, highlighting the growing popularity of yoga in Mali.

2. The celebration was marked by a large-scale ‘mass yoga session’ led by Mr. Oumar Coulibaly, a Malian yoga teacher and his team. Participants from all walks of life especially, students from the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies (USTTB), University of Law and Political Sciences, National Institute of Youth and Sports (INJS), Indophile groups, members of diplomatic corps based in Bamako, members of Indian diaspora, Indian companies based in Bamako etc., joined the celebration embracing the spirit of health and well-being.

3. The event was graced by the presence of several high-level dignitaries, including Mr. Souleymane Ouologuem, Special Advisor  to the Ministry of Culture, Handicrafts, Hotel Industry and Tourism, Mr. Modibo Sow, Special Advisor to the President of the National Transitional Council (CNT), Mr. Amadou Diallou, Parliament Secretary from CNT, Mrs. Kadidia Sangare, Member of CNT, University rectors, and professors.

4. The programme began with a ‘Kathak’ performance by Smt. Pooja Karmakar, a ‘Kathak’ exponent and an Indian expatriate living in Bamako. Ambassador designate Dr. N. Nandakumar in his IDY message noted the ancient Indian roots of ‘Yoga’ and the initiative taken by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi towards internationalization of Yoga. He expressed happiness towards growing popularity of Yoga in Mali and urged everyone to make Yoga a part of their daily life for a healthy and harmonious lifestyle.  In his guest address Mr. Souleymane Ouologuem, Special Advisor  to the Ministry of Culture, Handicrafts, Hotel Industry and Tourism appreciated the benefits of Yoga to the whole humankind. The official inauguration of the programme was followed by a 45 minute ‘mass yoga session’ in which ‘asanas’ like Tadasana, Trigonasana, Vrikshasana, Bhujangasana, Padahastasana, Pranayama etc., were practised. The ‘mass yoga session’ was followed by vibrant cultural performances from Malian cultural groups, symbolizing the strong cultural connect between the two nations. A Malian percussion team named ‘BWAZAN’, nominated by the Malian Ministry of Culture  presented a vibrant performance using traditional music instruments of Mali. There were also traditional Malian dance performances by the Indophile group ‘Dostana’ under the aegis of India-Mali Amity Association (AAMI). 

5. The IDY 2025 celebration of the Embassy of India, Bamako was prominently covered by the National Television of Mali (ORTM2) and major Malian digital news media. Further, Embassy of India in Bamako had published a news feature on IDY titled ‘Celebrating the International Day of Yoga: A Path to Harmony and Well-being’ in the state newspaper L'Essor on the eve of IDY 2025 taking the message of Yoga to a wider audience.

6. The grand celebration of IDY 2025 in Bamako was the culmination of a series of popular curtain-raiser events organized by the Embassy throughout May and June 2025. These included:

         a) The first curtain raiser and 90 days countdown for IDY celebration in Mali on 12th April 2025  at the chancery.