June 20, 2024
2 mins read

Global Yoga Event at UN Highlights Unity

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Yoga for Women Empowerment’ …reports Arul Louis

Citizens from around the globe will gather here on Friday to show the uniting power of yoga across boundaries and divisions as the world organisation celebrates the 10th International Day of Yoga.

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Yoga for Women Empowerment’ and it will be featured on the North Lawn of the UN headquarters where diplomats, UN officials and employees, and aficionados of the ancient art will perform asanas in synchronicity.

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed is expected to participate in the event and a video message from General Assembly President Dennis Francis is anticipated.

The global celebrations with millions participating every year were set in motion by the General Assembly in December 2014 when it declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in a resolution proposed by India, cosponsored by 175 countries and adopted unanimously.

The date was chosen because the Summer Solstice falls on that day in the northern hemisphere most years, although it is a day early this year and next.

The yoga celebration is here at 6 p.m. New York Time (3:30 a.m. IST Saturday) will be webcast by the UN (https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1b/k1bvb85iak).

With a blazing temperature of 35 degrees Centigrade, it will be held on a day that is forecast to be the hottest so far this year.

India’s UN Mission is cosponsoring it with the UN Secretariat.

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the yoga celebration at the UN and it made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for the most nationalities — 135 — participating in yoga practice at one place.

On the day of the Solstice, Thursday, the annual ‘Mind over Madness’ event will be held at Times Square with day-long yoga sessions creating an island of calm and serenity amid the cacophony and the bustle of the place known as ‘the Crossroads of the World’.

India’s Consulate General is one of the sponsors of the event that runs from 7.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. and features seven yoga classes run by instructors of several ethnicities and national origin showing yoga’s universality.

PM Modi presented the idea of an International Day of Yoga in September 2014 at his first address to the General Assembly, declaring, “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition”.

Asoke Kumar Mukerji, who was then the permanent representative, rounded up the 175 cosponsors cutting across international divisions and had it adopted within three months — likely a record for the quickest passage of a resolution at the General Assembly.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)

ALSO READ: India Calls Out Canada for Kanishka Bomber Tribute

Previous Story

US Forces Take Down Key ISIS Leader in Syria

Next Story

One More to Samosa Caucus, Subramanyam Wins Big

Latest from -Top News

India to send holy relics to Mongolia by 2026

According to the Maha Bodhi Society of India, Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Moggallana were the two principal disciples of Lord Buddha. Revered for their wisdom and spiritual accomplishments, they hold a prominent

India, Uganda vow deeper ties

Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh met Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday to discuss strengthening India–Uganda ties….reports Asian Lite News Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh met

India-Mongolia trade nearly doubles

Bilateral trade between India and Mongolia nearly doubles as the two nations mark 70 years of diplomatic ties and deepen their strategic and cultural partnership…reports Asian Lite News Bilateral trade between India

Modi, Ukhnaa seal a golden friendship

India and Mongolia mark 70 years of diplomatic relations with energy, cultural, and development pacts — a partnership rooted in shared Buddhist heritage and growing strategic trust….reports Asian Lite News India and
Go toTop