Home > Topics > International Yoga Day 2017

International Yoga Day

June 21 was recognised as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations in 2014. It all started on September 27 three years ago when Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested that June 21, the Longest Day of the Year in the Northern Hemisphere, should be made the International Day of Yoga. In his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Narendra Modi said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help in well being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.” History of International Yoga Day: How PM Narendra Modi started journey of the spiritual practice from the United Nations!

FROM A PROPOSAL TO AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED DAY

It was just a proposal but the UNGA considered the initiation of the spiritual practice around the world and decided to bestow it with the significance it deserves in the form of the International Yoga Day. In the initial stage before June 21 was recognised as the International Yoga Day, informal consultations on the draft resolution entitled “International Day of Yoga” was held on October 14, 2014. Two months later, on December 11, India’s Permanent Representative Asoke Mukherji introduced the draft resolution in UNGA. The draft received the support from 177 Member States who sponsored the text, which was adopted without a vote. While this initiative found support in many global leaders, 177 nations co-sponsored the resolution, the highest number of co-sponsors ever for any UNGA resolution of such nature.

WHY UNITED NATIONS ADOPTED IT

(a) Noting the importance of individuals and populations making healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health.

(b) Underscoring the fact that global health is a long-term development objective that requires closer international cooperation through the exchange of best practices aimed at building better individual lifestyles devoid of excesses of all kinds.

(d) Recognizing also that wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practicing yoga would be beneficial for the health of the world population.

WHY JUNE 21

One of the reasons why Narendra Modi proposed the day of June 21 as International Yoga Day is because it is the longest day in a year. June 21, as the longest day, holds significance in may parts of the world.

From the perspective of yoga, the summer solstice marks the transition to Dakshinayana. Dakshinayana is the six-month period between the Summer solstice and Winter solstice. The first full moon after the Summer solstice is known as Guru Poornima. Dakshinayana is also considered a time when there is a natural support for those pursuing spiritual practices such as Yoga.

Lord Shiva is said to have begun imparting the knowledge of yoga to the mankind on this day. What is Yoga, its history, relevance and how International Yoga Day came into being.

The United Nations declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day on December 11, 2014. The first International Yoga Day function held on June 21, 2015, at Rajpath in the national capital witnessed Narendra Modi performing Yoga along with over 200 million people across the country and over 37,000 people in Delhi alone. The second edition was held in Chandigarh with the participation of over 30,000 people in the presence of the Prime Minister.

Text by Chanchal Chauhan.

50 Days of Modi 2.0: NDA's Second Term Indicates Huge Transformation For Next 5 Years
India.com News Desk | July 21, 2019 12:58 PM IST
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has entered into a hectic pace ever since he has taken charg...
50 Days of Modi 2.0: NDA's Second Term Indicates Huge Transformation For Next 5 Years
indiacom
2019-07-21T01:58:11+00:00
2019-07-21T01:58:11+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
FIR Filed Against Rahul Gandhi Over His 'Dog Squad' Tweet on International Yoga Day
India.com News Desk | June 23, 2019 2:53 PM IST
New Delhi: An FIR was lodged against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for his tweet on International Yoga...
FIR Filed Against Rahul Gandhi Over His 'Dog Squad' Tweet on International Yoga Day
indiacom
2019-06-23T03:53:21+00:00
2019-06-23T03:53:21+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
BJP Compares Mamata Banerjee With Pak PM Imran Khan For Not Participating In Yoga Day
India.com News Desk | June 23, 2019 6:49 AM IST
Indore: The International Yoga Day, on June 21, was celebrated all over the world with much enthusia...
BJP Compares Mamata Banerjee With Pak PM Imran Khan For Not Participating In Yoga Day
indiacom
2019-06-22T19:49:13+00:00
2019-06-22T19:49:13+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
UP Minister Makes Govt Employee Tie His Shoelace During Yoga Day Event, Says 'One Should Appreciate it' - Watch Video
India.com News Desk | June 22, 2019 8:13 AM IST
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Cabinet minister Laxmi Narayan faced flak after a government employee was s...
UP Minister Makes Govt Employee Tie His Shoelace During Yoga Day Event, Says 'One Should Appreciate it' - Wat
indiacom
2019-06-21T21:13:16+00:00
2019-06-22T02:15:46+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
TikTok Users Flooded The Video Sharing App With Unique, Hilarious Yoga Asanas. Watch Viral Videos
India.com Buzz Desk | June 21, 2019 7:47 PM IST
International Yoga Day was celebrated today with much enthusiasm across the world. From Indian Prime...
TikTok Users Flooded The Video Sharing App With Unique, Hilarious Yoga Asanas. Watch Viral Videos
indiacom
2019-06-21T08:47:56+00:00
2019-06-21T08:50:06+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
Virender Sehwag Hilariously TROLLED For Posture, Attire on International Yoga Day 2019 | SEE POSTS
India.com Sports Desk | June 21, 2019 7:47 PM IST
International Yoga Day 2019: Cricketer-turned-social media sensation Virender Sehwag was at it again...
Virender Sehwag Hilariously TROLLED For Posture, Attire on International Yoga Day 2019 | SEE POSTS
indiacom
2019-06-21T08:47:09+00:00
2019-06-21T08:47:09+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
International Yoga Day 2019: MS Dhoni Mysteriously Trends Ahead of India vs Afghanistan ICC World Cup 2019 Match at Southampton | SEE POSTS
India.com Sports Desk | June 21, 2019 7:29 PM IST
International Yoga Day 2019: 'MS Dhoni has been promoting Yoga day since 2004', read of the tweets. ...
International Yoga Day 2019: MS Dhoni Mysteriously Trends Ahead of India vs Afghanistan ICC World Cup 2019 Ma
indiacom
2019-06-21T08:29:17+00:00
2019-06-21T08:29:17+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
Cuteness Overloaded! Kunal Kemmu, Soha Ali Khan's Daughter Inaaya Naumi Kemmu Practises Yoga With Grandmother
India.com Entertainment Desk | June 21, 2019 7:26 PM IST
On the occasion of International Yoga Day, several celebrities have been sharing their way of celebr...
Cuteness Overloaded! Kunal Kemmu, Soha Ali Khan's Daughter Inaaya Naumi Kemmu Practises Yoga With Grandmother
indiacom
2019-06-21T08:26:32+00:00
2019-06-21T08:26:32+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
Akshay Kumar's 75-Year-Old Mother Performs Yoga Post Her Knee Surgery to Celebrate International Yoga Day
India.com Buzz Desk | June 21, 2019 4:16 PM IST
On the occasion of International Yoga Day, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar s mother, who is 75-year-old...
Akshay Kumar's 75-Year-Old Mother Performs Yoga Post Her Knee Surgery to Celebrate International Yoga Day
indiacom
2019-06-21T05:16:26+00:00
2019-06-21T06:49:09+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
Rahul Gandhi Captioned Army Dogs Performing Yoga as 'New India' And No One Knows Why
India.com News Desk | June 21, 2019 5:30 PM IST
New Delhi: As the world celebrates International Yoga Day today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ur...
Rahul Gandhi Captioned Army Dogs Performing Yoga as 'New India' And No One Knows Why
indiacom
2019-06-21T06:30:27+00:00
2019-06-21T06:33:22+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
Bhojpuri Sizzler Monalisa Performs Yoga on International Yoga Day - See Picture
India.com Buzz Desk | June 21, 2019 1:49 PM IST
Bhojpuri actor Monalisa aka Antara Biswas has wished her fans a Happy Yoga Day with asana on the occ...
Bhojpuri Sizzler Monalisa Performs Yoga on International Yoga Day - See Picture
indiacom
2019-06-21T02:49:51+00:00
2019-06-21T02:49:53+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
International Yoga Day News And Updates: PM Modi Leads Celebrations in Ranchi; Home Minister Amit Shah Joins in From Rohtak
India.com News Desk | June 21, 2019 6:30 AM IST
Fri, 21 Jun 2019 12:24:57 pmhttps://twitter.com/ANI/status/1141958904789766144Fri, 21 Jun 2019 12:24...
International Yoga Day News And Updates: PM Modi Leads Celebrations in Ranchi; Home Minister Amit Shah Joins
indiacom
2019-06-20T19:30:00+00:00
2019-06-21T01:56:58+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
International Yoga Day: Sapna Choudhary Urges Fans to Maintain Healthy Lifestyle, Reveals Her Favourite Asana
India.com Buzz Desk | June 21, 2019 12:55 PM IST
Haryanvi singer and dancer Sapna Choudhary urges fans to maintain a healthy lifestyle by doing yoga ...
International Yoga Day: Sapna Choudhary Urges Fans to Maintain Healthy Lifestyle, Reveals Her Favourite Asana
indiacom
2019-06-21T01:55:04+00:00
2019-06-21T01:55:04+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
International Day of Yoga: Easy Yoga Asanas For a Flat Belly
India.com Lifestyle Staff | June 21, 2019 12:20 PM IST
[videourl url="https://vidstreams.india.com/videos/indiacom/2019/06/21/ac57395c133d9005e845343ecd846...
International Day of Yoga: Easy Yoga Asanas For a Flat Belly
indiacom
2019-06-21T01:20:19+00:00
2019-06-21T01:20:19+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
International Day of Yoga 2019: 3 Immediate Changes You See in Yourself When You Start Doing Yoga
India.com Lifestyle Staff | June 21, 2019 10:42 AM IST
International Day of Yoga 2019 is observed on June 21 every year. We have been told about the health...
International Day of Yoga 2019: 3 Immediate Changes You See in Yourself When You Start Doing Yoga
indiacom
2019-06-20T23:42:47+00:00
2019-06-20T23:46:30+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
International Yoga Day 2019: BSF Watch Dogs Perform Yoga Along With Their Trainers, Win Internet
India.com Buzz Desk | June 21, 2019 9:56 AM IST
Today whole world celebrates International Yoga Day 2019 by participating in massive yoga sessions a...
International Yoga Day 2019: BSF Watch Dogs Perform Yoga Along With Their Trainers, Win Internet
indiacom
2019-06-20T22:56:55+00:00
2019-06-20T23:07:20+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
PM Modi Performs Yoga With Thousand of Enthusiasts in Ranchi
India.com News Desk | June 21, 2019 9:45 AM IST
[videourl url="https://vidstreams.india.com/videos/indiacom/2019/06/21/5e4905b511df9679ac44487b73385...
PM Modi Performs Yoga With Thousand of Enthusiasts in Ranchi
indiacom
2019-06-20T22:45:46+00:00
2019-06-20T22:45:46+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
International Yoga Day 2019: Bhojpuri Star Rani Chatterjee Performs Yoga, Says She Does it For The Peace of Mind
India.com Buzz Desk | June 21, 2019 8:49 AM IST
On the International Yoga Day, Bhojpuri actor Rani Chatterjee has revealed that she does yoga for th...
International Yoga Day 2019: Bhojpuri Star Rani Chatterjee Performs Yoga, Says She Does it For The Peace of M
indiacom
2019-06-20T21:49:33+00:00
2019-06-20T21:50:36+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
Delhi Police Issues Traffic Advisory for International Day of Yoga
PTI Feeds | June 20, 2019 11:21 PM IST
New Delhi: The Delhi Police has asked commuters to avoid Rajpath and its connecting roads on Friday ...
Delhi Police Issues Traffic Advisory for International Day of Yoga
indiacom
2019-06-20T12:21:46+00:00
2019-06-20T12:21:46+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com
UN Headquarters Projects Yoga Postures Ahead of International Yoga Day
India.com News Desk | June 20, 2019 10:10 PM IST
As International Day of Yoga approaches, the United Nations headquarters in New York was lit up with...
UN Headquarters Projects Yoga Postures Ahead of International Yoga Day
indiacom
2019-06-20T11:10:22+00:00
2019-06-20T11:10:22+00:00
International Yoga Day 2017
India.com