Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Trade and Industry has declared yoga as a sport.
- The decision came after two years after United Nations declared June 21 as International Yoga Day in 2015.
- Any Saudi citizen wanting to practice or teach yoga can avail a licence from the government.
- Nouf Marwaai (founder of the Arab Yoga Foundation ) led a campaign in Saudi Arabis to recognise Yoga as a sport.
- Nouf became the first certified yoga instructor in the country.
- Notably, just a day before a Muslim girl Rafia in Jharkhand was harassed for three year for practising yoga claiming yoga to be a un-Islamic activity.
International Yoga Day
- Yoga Day is celebrated annually on 21 June since 2015.
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his UN address suggested the date of 21 June, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares special significance in many parts of the world.
About Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia is bordered by Jordan and Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates Oman and Yemen
- It is separated from Israel and Egypt by the Gulf of Aqaba
- It is the only nation with both a Red Sea coast and a Persian Gulf coast
- Capital- Riyadh
- Currency- Saudi Riyal
