International Yoga Day has gained immense popularity globally. Millions of people participate in yoga-related events on this day
With International Yoga Day being just a few days away, an atmosphere of excitement and intense activities can easily be sensed not just in India, but across the globe. It is a coincidence that the day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, after the call for the adoption of June 21st as International Yoga Day by Prime Minister Modi during his address to the UN General Assembly in September 2014. And this year, PM Modi during his next visit to the US, may lead an exciting group of Yoga practitioners on the 21st of June in the park next to the same UN headquarters.
Yoga has been one of the greatest symbols of India’s rich cultural heritage. It is an ancient practice that originated in India and encompasses physical, mental and spiritual disciplines. It promotes harmony between the body and mind and helps individuals attain a state of well-being. International Yoga Day aims to raise awareness about the benefits of practicing yoga and encourages people to adopt it as a part of their daily lives.
Each yogic activity is key to improving flexibility, strength, and physical, mental and emotional balance. It’s a practice that prepares us to meet modern life challenges successfully. When the world speaks about holistic health and well-being for mankind, India’s ancient wisdom of Yoga is invariably discussed and appreciated. Its popularity grew multifold during the Covid pandemic, when physical and mental fitness was much stressed globally, spurring millions of people to turn to Yoga for the same. A spike in stress levels during the pandemic was observed with increased time being spent in confined spaces along with added workload as people were forced to adapt to the new realities. Here, Yoga offered a solution for maintaining physical fitness as well as contributing towards one’s mental peace and emotional equilibrium even in the midst of the calamitous impacts of the restrictions.
Considering the well-documented rewards of Yoga for holistic health and well-being of the population, it is indeed a matter of pride for every Indian that this precious inheritance of India has found global acceptance. The benefits of Yoga in immunity building and management of stress are well established with evidence galore. With programmes like Global Yoga Conference and International Yoga Day, more and more people are being drawn into the fold of practising Yoga and related activities. There is a widespread realization today that health is of foremost importance for everyone, much ahead of a career.
The UN has acknowledged that yoga serves humanity in alleviating sufferings and brings people together through compassion, and kindness,. International Yoga Day has gained immense popularity globally, and millions of people participate in yoga-related events on this day. It has become an opportunity to unite people from different backgrounds, cultures, and religions in the pursuit of holistic health and well-being. The continuous celebrations of Yoga Day are sure to further spread awareness among people about this practice and the benefits it can bring in their lives and deepen a sense of continuous connection between an individual’s inner consciousness and the external world. The Ministry of Ayush, being the nodal ministry for the International Day of Yoga in India, deserves a lot of appreciation, as it has taken the lead in organizing eight successful editions starting in 2015, which have found great enthusiasm and worldwide support. Now, with the whole government approach and support from all institutions nationally and internationally, and co-operations and collaborations to build on the progress achieved over the last 8 years in taking the message of holistic health to each and every part of the world, Yoga along with Ayush has a lot to contribute.
(The writer is a senior journalist)
