The tenth edition of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) will be celebrated in Srinagar on June 21, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the event at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC).
After assuming charge for the third term, it will be his first visit there.
Themed, ‘Yoga for Self and Society’ highlighting yoga’s dual role in fostering individual and societal well-being will witness several events including the ‘Yoga for Space’.
With the support of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a unique initiative called ‘Yoga for Space’ is being organised.
On that day all ISRO scientists/officers will perform the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) on IDY.
The Gaganyaan project team will also be participating in IDY 2024, AYUSH Minister Prataprao Jadhav said at a press conference here on Tuesday.
Jadhav pointed out that the theme for this yoga day highlights the promotion of a connection between the inner self and the outer world, extending beyond personal well-being to include the broader community.
“Yoga nurtures physical, mental, and spiritual growth while promoting societal harmony. The enthusiastic participation of millions in recent years reflects the profound impact of yoga on communities,” the Minister said.
He also announced that the Prime Minister has written to each gram pradhan, encouraging grassroots participation and the spread of yoga in rural areas. On the occasion, Jadhav launched a ‘Common Yoga Protocol Book in Braille’ script to support visually impaired people to learn and practice yoga with convenience.
The Minister also launched Professor Ayushman’s comic on yoga. This book will help children to learn and practice yoga with interest and entertainment.
Ayush Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said IDY is not only a celebration but also a concerted effort to bring about a behavioural change so that people adopt yoga in their lives to get the benefits of yoga.
He further highlighted the ‘Whole of Government’ approach to the IDY celebrations, emphasising the coordinated efforts across various Government departments and the active participation of State Governments to ensure an inclusive and widespread observance each year. The Ayush Ministry has already launched a video contest through the MyGov Portal and MyBharat portal to raise awareness about yoga and to inspire people to prepare for and become active participants in the observation of IDY 2024.
Families have to record up to one-minute harmonious yoga demonstration short videos for the contest. The IDY celebration is done by a harmonious 45-minute yoga demonstration called Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). Videos of CYP demonstrations are available on YouTube in 22 Indian languages, six UN languages, and nine other foreign languages, and they are celebrated across the UN member nations.
Hwang Il Yong, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre India in Delhi, said Korea has adopted the yoga tradition in a big way. "The International Day of Yoga’ celebrates yoga as India’s cultural contribution globally, which is now deeply rooted in Korean culture. On D-Day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will host the “Gwanghwamun Moonlight Yoga” event at Gwanghwamun Square, including cultural and artistic performances. Further, from 25 June to 8 August, yoga classes will be held at the venue thrice a week and a maximum of 120 participants can enjoy the hour-long session.
"In Korea, yoga is embraced as a fitness routine and a holistic lifestyle that nurtures the body, mind, and spirit. Recognizing yoga’s health benefits, Korean educational institutes are incorporating yoga classes into their general education curriculum and empowerment initiatives."
Further, to mark the 50th anniversary of Korea-India relations last year, a yoga event was held at Seoul’s Olympic Park, attracting over 600 participants. Covid-19 pandemic has taught the world to focus on health and well-being and taking this ahead yoga will continue to grow in Korea. I am eager to see more Korean people embracing yoga’s deeper philosophy in life, beyond just physical exercise, said Hwang Il Yong.
In September 2014, the Prime Minister addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). During his speech, he proposed establishing an annual International Day of Yoga. Modi highlighted yoga’s well-being benefits and its holistic approach to health. The UN adopted a resolution in December 2014, officially declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga after a record-breaking 175 member States endorsed the resolution.
