“Yoga has roots in India and is now embraced globally, uniting people with its values of balance, mindfulness and peace,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said.

In his message on the 10th International Yoga Day, Mr. Guterres urged people to be inspired by the ancient practice’s timeless values and its call for a more peaceful and harmonious future.

In December 2014, the UN proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, recognising its universal appeal. The draft UN General Assembly resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states.

“The International Day of Yoga recognises the ancient practice’s unmatched power to deliver healing, inner peace and physical, spiritual and mental well-being,” Mr. Guterres said in his message on June 21 as the world celebrated the 10th International Yoga Day.

“With roots in India but now embraced worldwide by people of all faiths and cultures, Yoga unites people with its values of balance, mindfulness and peace with people and planet alike,” Mr. Guterres said in the message posted on X by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN.

He noted that this year’s theme ‘Yoga for Self and Society’ reminds “us of Yoga’s important role in enhancing people’s lives and the wider community. On this important day, let us all be inspired by Yoga’s timeless values and its call for a more peaceful and harmonious future,” the UN chief said.

The Permanent Mission of India to the UN organised the commemoration of the 10th International Yoga Day at the North Lawn Area of the UN Headquarters, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Yoga Day last year in a historic celebration, nine years after he proposed from the UN General Assembly podium for June 21 to be marked as International Yoga Day.

The event was attended by UN envoys, personnel, officials and members of the diaspora as well as yoga enthusiasts and practitioners. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed greeted the attendees with a ‘Namaste’ and said that at its heart, yoga is about unity, the unity of mind, body and spirit.

“It is about you, it is about me, it is about us. And at the UN today, we see how it unites people across cultures and countries,” she said.

Ms. Mohammed added that since the UN General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga 10 years ago, the celebration and momentum have grown steadily.

“Today, it brings millions of us together of all ages and diverse backgrounds to honour this ancient tradition,” Ms. Mohammed said as she referred to the Guinness World Record created at last year’s Yoga Day commemoration for most nationalities practising Yoga together. At least 135 countries were represented at the 2023 Yoga session.

“And I was the proud one of those many. That achievement was a wonderful and powerful symbol of Yoga’s global popularity, its universal appeal, and its power to bring people together in their shared interests and their shared humanity,” she said.

Extending greetings for the day with a ‘Namaste’, President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis said in a virtual message that Yoga has been an integral part of India’s cultural tradition for millennia.

“Over the years, it has spread through the currents of cultural diffusion to every corner of the world, with millions of practitioners who turn to its mental, physical and spiritual benefits,” he said.

He said that Yoga’s benefits, such as a sense of contentment and happiness, physical strength and flexibility, mental fortitude, a sense of empathy and compassion, and inner peace, are all qualities that “should also guide our efforts on the multilateral stage.” Mr. Francis added that Yoga’s ethical guide to living advocates for nonviolence, truthfulness and contentment.

“These principles resonate deeply with the core values of the United Nations, which strive to promote peace, justice, and human dignity worldwide. I therefore see in Yoga a powerful metaphor for the United Nations itself,” he said.

Mr. Francis called on people to embrace the teachings of Yoga, not only as a physical practice but as a guiding philosophy for “our collective efforts in building a better, stronger future for all of humanity.”

Charge d’affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the UN Ambassador R. Ravindra said that in the decade since 2014, Yoga has been embraced by people across the globe like never before, and today it has become a symbol of overall well-being, health and peace.

On the occasion, the UN Chamber Music Society performed world music repertoire, and Yoga masters led meditation and Yoga exercises.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud participated in International Yoga Day celebrations with the Supreme Court registry staff yesterday and talked about four lessons yoga teaches.

Speaking at the event organized at the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of India said “International Yoga Day is a festival, a celebration and it shows commitment at a personal and social level. The day is also for adopting an ideal lifestyle.”

NDTV accessed a note written by the Chief Justice in Hindi, listing different asanas of yoga and what values we can learn.

The CJI discussed the four lessons we can learn from yoga. ‘Sadbhavna’ (Goodwill), which brings respect for every creature on Earth. ‘Sashaktikaran’ (Empowerment) – Individually, socially and for the nation. ‘Siddhant’ (Principles) affects our lifestyle and ‘Samanvay’, which teaches us coordination between breathing and physical movement.

He also mentioned an incident that took place three days before International Yoga Day. CJI Chandrachud said, “Three days ago I was doing Surya Namaskar and suddenly sprained his back,” adding that the incident taught him that “we should always remain humble”.

The Chief Justice gave a special mention to his 90-year-old yoga teacher, Anant Limaye also known as Limaye Kaka, who retired from State Bank of India and now lives in Pune.

The Chief Justice said Physical labour and exercise are important for good health and yoga is also a path to spiritual progress.

CJI Chandrachud said he has been doing yoga for the last 26 years, which includes Aalom-Vilom, Kapalbhati, Tadasana, and Pawan Muktasana.

Earlier, in an exclusive interview to NDTV, the CJI said he wakes at 3:30 am to do yoga every day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 10th International Yoga Day celebrations at a mass yoga session in Srinagar yesterday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yoga can help Jammu and Kashmir attract more tourists which will provide new livelihood opportunities to the residents.

Several leaders from across the country – from Foreign Minister S Jaishankar to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath – shared glimpses from their yoga sessions to commemorate the event.

Srinagar:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 10th International Yoga Day celebrations this morning from Jammu and Kashmir — an event that has received massive national and global attention in which the location plays no small part.

Here are top 10 points on this big story:

Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India and combines physical postures (called asanas), breathing exercises (pranayamas) and meditation. Known for improving flexibility, strength and balance, it also benefits us mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  

As we approach International Yoga Day 2024 on June 21, let’s look back at how this day came to be.

When was the first International Yoga Day celebrated?

The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015. The idea for International Yoga Day was first proposed on September 27, 2014, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly.

He spoke about yoga’s ancient heritage and its potential to foster global health and peace. PM Modi, at the time, stressed that yoga was not just about physical exercise but a way to discover a sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature.

Following this proposal, on December 11, 2014, the United Nations officially proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day. This decision was supported by 177 member states.

The theme for International Yoga Day 2024 is “Yoga for Self and Society.”

International Yoga Day: Significance

International Yoga Day aims to raise awareness about the many benefits of practising yoga and to encourage people worldwide to integrate yoga into their daily lives. Since its inception, it has grown into a global event with millions of participants from various cultures and backgrounds, all coming together to celebrate the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga.

On this day, various events such as mass yoga sessions, workshops, and seminars are organized globally, often featuring renowned yoga practitioners.

The day aims to raise global awareness about how yoga improves physical health by improving flexibility, strength and endurance, and helps manage issues like back pain and heart problems.

Beyond physical benefits, yoga supports mental well-being by reducing stress, improving concentration and promoting mental clarity, with breathing exercises and meditation helping to manage anxiety and depression.

Spiritually, yoga fosters inner peace and self-awareness, guiding people toward a deeper connection with themselves.