Its International Yoga Day | Yoga Day | Know why International Yoga Day is Celebrated?

 Shri Narendra Modi, H.E. Prime Minister, led a yoga practise.

The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations kindly invites you to the 9th annual International Yoga Day celebration on the North Lawn at UN Headquarters in New York on June 21, 2023, from 8:00-9:00 a.m. EST.

What is Yoga, precisely, and why are we celebrating it?

Yoga is an ancient Indian physical, mental, and spiritual discipline. The word 'yoga' is taken from Sanskrit and means 'to connect or merge,' symbolising the union of body and awareness.

It is presently practised in various forms all around the world and is becoming increasingly popular.

Recognising its widespread appeal, the United Nations recognised 21 June as widespread Day of Yoga on 11 December 2014 by resolution 69/131.

The International Day of Yoga aims to raise global awareness of the many benefits of yoga practise.

The drafted resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and accepted by a record 175 member nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi first mentioned the idea in his address to the United Nations General Assembly at the start of the 69th session, saying, "Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition." Yoga signifies the confluence of mind and body, of thought and action... a holistic approach to our health and well-being. Yoga is more than just exercise; it is a way of reconnecting with oneself, the world, and nature."

The resolution highlights "the importance of individuals and populations making healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health." The World Health Organisation has urged its member countries to help their citizens reduce physical inactivity, which is one of the top ten leading causes of death worldwide and a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Yoga, on the other hand, is more than just an exercise. One of its most notable practitioners, the late B. K. S. Iyengar, stated that "yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one's actions."