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{{short description|Annual promotion day}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = International Day of Yoga
| type = International
| image =
| caption = The United Nations International Yoga Day logo reflects harmony and peace for humanity, which is the essence of Yoga.
| nickname = Yoga Day
| observedby = Worldwide
| significance = Official United Nations promotion of global health, harmony and peace
| duration = 1 day
| frequency = Annual
| scheduling = Same day each year
| date = 21 June
| firsttime = 21 June 2015
| celebrations = Yoga
}}
[[File:Yoga for the world Celebrating the International Day of Yoga (Abridged version).webm|thumb|International Yoga day at a glance]]

The '''International Day of Yoga''' has been [[List of International Days of Yoga|celebrated across the world annually on June 21]] since 2015, following its inception in the [[United Nations General Assembly]] in 2014.<ref>[http://www.unic.org.in/display.php?E=13712&K=Yoga UN Declared 21 June as International Day of Yoga] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709170015/http://www.unic.org.in/display.php?E=13712&K=Yoga |date=9 July 2016 }}</ref>
[[Yoga]] is a [[Yoga as exercise|physical]], [[Mind|mental]] and [[spiritual practice]] which originated in ancient [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?25096/Yoga+Its+Origin+History+and+Development |title=Yoga: Its Origin, History and Development |website=www.mea.gov.in |language=en |access-date=20 June 2018}}</ref> The Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]], in his UN address in 2014, had suggested the date of June 21, as it is the [[Summer solstice|longest day of the year]] in the [[Northern Hemisphere]] and shares a special significance in many parts of the world.<ref name="Times of India 2020"/>


== Origin ==

[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participates in the mass yoga demonstration at Rajpath on the occasion of International Yoga Day, in New Delhi on June 21, 2015.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Yoga Day celebrations in New Delhi, 21 June 2015]]

The Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]], in his UN address in 2014, suggested an annual Day of Yoga on June 21, as it is the [[Summer solstice|longest day of the year]] in the [[Northern Hemisphere]] and shares a special significance in many parts of the world.<ref name="Times of India 2020">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/un-declares-june-21-as-international-day-of-yoga/articleshow/45480636.cms |title=UN declares June 21 as 'International Day of Yoga'|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=11 December 2014 }}</ref> Following the initial proposal, the UN adopted the draft resolution, entitled "Day of Yoga", in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-19 |title=International Yoga Day 2021: Theme, History, Quotes, Benefits, Importance |url=https://news.jagatgururampalji.org/international-yoga-day-theme-history-quotes/ |access-date=2021-06-21 |website=S A NEWS |language=en}}</ref> The consultations were convened by the delegation of India.<ref name="economictimes">{{cite web | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-10/news/54867994_1_international-day-consultations-prime-minister-narendra-modi | title=UN General Assembly to hold informal consultations on International Day of Yoga | publisher=[[The Economic Times]] | date=10 October 2014 | access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref>
In 2015 [[Reserve Bank of India]] issued a 10 rupees commemorative coin to mark the International Day of Yoga.<ref>10 rupees coin of 2015 – International Day of Yoga, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4oay3-JcU8&t=2s</ref>
In April 2017, UN Postal Administration (UNPA) issued 10 stamps on Asanas on a single sheet to mark International Day of Yoga.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/un-to-issue-10-stamps-of-asanas-on-international-yoga-day-117041900182_1.html|title=UN to issue 10 stamps of 'asanas' on International Yoga Day|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=19 April 2017}}</ref>

== UN Declaration ==

On 11 December 2014, India's Permanent Representative [[Asoke Kumar Mukerji|Asoke Mukherji]] introduced the draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly. The draft text received broad support from 177 Member States who sponsored the text, which was adopted without a vote. This initiative found support from many global leaders. A total of 177 nations co-sponsored the resolution, which is the highest number of [[Sponsor (legislative)|co-sponsors]] ever for any [[United Nations General Assembly|UNGA]] resolution of such nature.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hcilondon.in/International_Day_of_Yoga.html |title=United Nations General Assembly adopts Resolution on International Day of Yoga with a record number of 177 country co-sponsors |access-date=9 January 2015 |archive-date=9 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109031924/https://www.hcilondon.in/International_Day_of_Yoga.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

When proposing 21 June as the date, Modi said that the date was the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere (shortest in the southern hemisphere), having special significance in many parts of the world. In Indian calendars, the summer solstice marks the transition to [[Dakshinayana]]. The second<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianastrology.com/festival/2018/guru-purnima-17|title=Guru Purnima 2018}}</ref> full moon after summer solstice is known as [[Guru Poornima]]. In Hindu mythology, [[Shiva]], the first yogi (Adi Yogi), is said to have begun imparting the knowledge of yoga to the rest of mankind on this day, and became the first guru (Adi Guru).<ref>{{cite news|first1=J|last1=Sadhguru|author-link=Sadhguru|title=The first Guru is born|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/edit-page/The-first-Guru-is-born/articleshow/14613783.cms|access-date=23 February 2015|agency=Times News Service|publisher=[[Times of India]]|date=3 July 2012}}</ref>

Following the adoption of the UN resolution, several leaders of the spiritual movement in India voiced their support for the initiative. The founder of [[Isha Foundation]], [[Sadhguru]], stated, "this could be a kind of a foundation stone to make scientific approach to the inner well-being of the human being, a worldwide thing... It's a tremendous step for the world."<ref name="Youtube">{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH5dXYEfG1s&t=4m16s | title=International Day of Yoga: A Historic Event | publisher=YouTube | date=21 May 2015}}</ref> The founder of [[Art of Living Foundation|Art of Living]], [[Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader)|Ravi Shankar]], lauded the efforts of Modi, saying, "It is very difficult for any philosophy, religion or culture to survive without state patronage. Yoga has existed so far almost like an orphan. Now, official recognition by the UN would further spread the benefit of yoga to the entire world."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://srisriravishankar.org/entry/un-declaration-june-21-world-yoga-day/ |title=Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Speaks on International Yoga Day|date=12 December 2014}}</ref>

== In practice ==

{{main|List of International Days of Yoga}}

The first International Day of Yoga was observed around the world on 21 June 2015. The [[Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy|Ministry of AYUSH]] made the necessary arrangements in India. 35,985 people, including PM Modi and dignitaries from 84 nations, performed 21 [[asana]]s (yoga postures) for 35 minutes at [[Rajpath]] in New Delhi, becoming the largest yoga class ever held, and with the largest number—84—of participating nations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsroom24x7.com/2015/06/21/massive-turnout-on-international-day-of-yoga-in-india/ |title=Massive turnout for Yoga day|date=21 June 2015 }}</ref><ref name="world record 1">{{cite web | url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-yoga-class | title=Largest yoga class | publisher=Guinness world record | date=21 June 2015 | access-date=22 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=PM Modi Leads Yoga Session, India Sets Guinness Records: 10 Developments |url=http://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/sushma-swaraj-addresses-the-united-nations-in-new-york-on-international-yogaday-highlights-773899 |access-date=21 June 2015 |agency=NDTV}}</ref> [[List of International Days of Yoga|Similar days have been held]] in cities in India and around the world each year since then.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-attend-international-yoga-day-at-chandigarh-1408754 | title=PM Modi To Attend International Yoga Day At Chandigarh | publisher=[[NDTV]] | date=22 May 2016 | access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/international-yoga-day-2017-pm-narendra-modi-yogi-adityanath-to-lead-international-yoga-day-event-in-1714867 |title=International Yoga Day 2017: Rainy Start To Yoga Day, PM Narendra Modi Leads Asanas In Lucknow – Highlights |website=Ndtv.com |date=21 June 2017 |author=Shylaja Varma |access-date=12 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zenyogastrap.com/international-yoga-day-2017-look-at-celebrations-around-world |title=International Yoga Day 2017: A Look at the Celebrations Around the World |website=Zenyogastrap.com |date=7 June 2016 |access-date=12 April 2018 |archive-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620001123/https://www.zenyogastrap.com/international-yoga-day-2017-look-at-celebrations-around-world |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/international-yoga-day-record-10000-people-participate-in-event-in-chinas-largest-ever-congregation-3743997.html |title=International Yoga Day: Record 10,000 people participate in event in China's largest ever congregation |website=Firstpost.com |date=25 June 2017 |access-date=12 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/live-updates-international-yoga-day-observed-across-the-world/article24215787.ece |title=International Yoga Day {{!}} Rajasthan records biggest yoga gathering |date=21 June 2018 |work=The Hindu |access-date=15 April 2019 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name="newsgraph.net">{{cite web |url=https://www.newsgraph.net/detail/1099-5th-International-Day-Of-Yoga-Day-in-Chandigarh.html |title=International Yoga Day 2019: 5th International Yoga Day Celebrations in Chandigarh |access-date=21 June 2019 |archive-date=21 June 2019 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621052338/https://www.newsgraph.net/detail/1099-5th-International-Day-Of-Yoga-Day-in-Chandigarh.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Reception ==

An [[Associated Press]] report in 2015 noted that the first "International Yoga Day"<ref name="AP 2015">{{cite news |last1=Associated Press |author-link=Associated Press |title=Yoga fans around world take to their mats for first International Yoga Day |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/21/yoga-fans-world-first-international-yoga-day |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=21 June 2015}}</ref> involved "millions of yoga enthusiasts" who "stretched and twisted", as well as Modi and members of his cabinet. It stated that the main road in Delhi had become an exercise area for the occasion, and reported that while Modi was speaking of "peace and harmony",<ref name="AP 2015"/> some people in India thought the promotion of yoga was a partisan [[Hindu]] operation. It reported that a sequence of [[Surya Namaskar]] (sun salutations) was dropped because Muslims objected to the implication that the sun was the Hindu god of the sun, [[Surya]]; the chanting of the Hindu sacred syllable "[[Om]]" was also dropped. Others considered that the money spent on the event might have been better spent on cleaning Delhi's streets.<ref name="AP 2015"/>

The ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'' wrote in 2016 that the 2014 United Nations resolution had been "wildly popular"<ref name="CSM 2016">{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Simone |title=Why is the United Nations promoting yoga? |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2016/0621/Why-is-the-United-Nations-promoting-yoga |date=21 June 2016}}</ref> but noted that yoga had a "[[Meditation|meditative]] component"<ref name="CSM 2016"/> and had become known as not only [[yoga as exercise|a form of physical exercise]] but also a mental and spiritual practice. It gave as evidence the 2015 sermon by [[Pope Francis]] cautioning [[Roman Catholics]] about the idea that yoga could be a path to God; it noted, too, that Modi had replied to the charge that the Day was intended to promote Hinduism with the words "Yoga is not about the other life. Therefore, it is not a religious practice".<ref name="CSM 2016"/>

''[[The Week]]'' stated in 2015 that the government of India's purpose in holding International Days of Yoga was to have yoga recognized around the world as "India's cultural property",<ref name="TW 2015">{{cite web |last1=''The Week'' Staff |title=Does yoga belong to India? |url=https://theweek.com/articles/537675/does-yoga-belong-india |website=[[The Week]] |date=7 February 2015}}</ref> citing India's minister of yoga, Shripad Yesso Naik as stating "We're trying to establish to the world that it's ours."<ref name="TW 2015"/> ''The Week'' wrote that this was not likely to succeed, not least because many types of yoga were already being practised in the Western world.<ref name="TW 2015"/> The article noted that [[Evangelical Christian|Christian evangelicals]] agreed with the Indian government that yoga was "primarily a Hindu spiritual practice",<ref name="TW 2015"/> but quoted the scholar of religion Ann Gleig as saying that most Western yoga was markedly changed by being in the West, and was devoid of religious content; the "ironically"<ref name="TW 2015"/> agreeing views of strongly religious Hindus and Christians were "historically flawed".<ref name="TW 2015"/>

<gallery class="center" mode="nolines" widths=220px heights=220px>
File:International Yoga Day celebrated at Panjab University, Chandigarh (India).jpg|A young student in [[Chandigarh]], India
File:Participants of the 21st June International Yoga Day rehearsing at Rajpath, during dress rehearsal, in New Delhi on June 19, 2015.jpg|New Delhi
File:TSQ yoga lesson jeh.jpg|[[New York City]]
File:International Yoga Day in russia.jpg|[[Vladivostok]], Russia
</gallery>

==Theme==
2023: Yoga For Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

== See also ==

* [[List of International Days of Yoga]]
* [[World Tai Chi and Qigong Day]]
* [[Yoga and cultural appropriation]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.studynotesbook.com/international-day-of-yoga-theme/ International Day Of Yoga Theme]
* [https://yoga.ayush.gov.in/ Ministry of Ayush – International Day of Yoga]
* [https://www.un.org/en/observances/yoga-day International Day of Yoga], on ''UN.org''


{{Modern yoga}}
{{Yoga}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:International Yoga Day}}
[[Category:United Nations days]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 2014]]
[[Category:June observances]]
[[Category:Health awareness days]]
[[Category:Yoga events]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

International Day of Yoga - Revision history

WikiDwarf at 04:31, 21 June 2023