World comes together at UN to celebrate International Yoga Day
United Nations, June 19
With "Oms", asanas and breathing exercises, hundreds of diplomats, UN staffers and visitors celebrated the International Day of Yoga here.
The theme of this year's celebration is "Yoga for Healthy Ageing", which Secretary-General Anotnio Guterres said "speaks to the vital importance of physical and mental well-being, mobility, and dignity as populations age across the globe".
"Yoga teaches us mindfulness, respect, and care for ourselves, for our planet, and for one another", he said.
"On this International Day, let us extend that care to the older members of our human family and build a world where every generation can lead a healthy life", he said.
While the International Yoga Day is observed on the Summer Solstice, which falls on Sunday, the celebration was held earlier on Thursday because the UN is closed for the weekend and Friday is a partial holiday for Juneteenth, a day on which the US commemorates the end of slavery.
About the celebration's significance, India's Permanent Representative P Harish recalled that Prime Minister Modi had said that when the message of yoga "goes to all corners of the world, [it] becomes not only an individual movement, but a mass movement where people lead healthy lives, focus on wellness, and eventually (it) builds international cooperation".
"The simplest yoga asana is 'namaste,' symbolising the unity of mind and body of human and nature", he said.
In the UN campus North Lawn by the East River and with the benevolent glance of Mahatma Gandhi's statue, the participants representing countries across the world cycled through yoga practices, starting with a heartfelt "Om", and through asanas of varying complexities.
The General Assembly proclaimed the International Day of Yoga in a resolution in 2014 at the suggestion of PM Modi.
The resolution was co-sponsored by 177 countries, setting a record for co-sponsorship.
On Sunday, New York will hold the traditional event, "Solstice in Times Square: Mind Over Madness Yoga", co-sponsored by the Indian Consulate.
That theme plays on the frenetic, maddening pace of the city, and how yoga can calm it.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I love that the UN recognized the Summer Solstice for this—yoga and nature are deeply connected. But I wish the article had mentioned more about how yoga is being adapted for older people with mobility issues. Not everyone can do complex asanas, and the real essence is in the breathing and mindfulness. Still, a beautiful event!
As someone who started yoga to manage stress from work, I can vouch for its benefits. It's not just exercise—it's a lifestyle. The UN celebration is a great reminder that wellness transcends borders. Plus, doing yoga by the East River with the Gandhi statue watching over? That's iconic!
The "namaste" asana point is spot on—it's the simplest yet most profound gesture. I just hope the commercialization of yoga in the West doesn't dilute its spiritual roots. Events like this keep the focus on the holistic benefits. Well done, India and the UN!
I've been practicing yoga for a decade, and seeing it get this kind of global recognition makes me emotional. The "Mind Over Madness" theme for Times Square is perfect for New York—a city that never sleeps but needs calm. Let's hope this inspires more people to take up yoga, especially for mental health. 🧘♀️
It's heartwarming to see diplomats and staffers from all over the world doing "Om" together. But let's not forget that yoga's roots are in Indian philosophy—this is a soft power win for India without being loud. PM Modi's vision of a mass
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