“Yoga has its roots in India and is now a global phenomenon that brings people together on the basis of balance, mindfulness and harmony,” said Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations.
In his message on the 10th International Yoga Day, Mr. Guterres urged to find inspiration in timeless values of this ancient tradition for a more peaceful and harmonious future.
In December 2014, June 21 has been declared by the UN as International Day of Yoga because it transcends all boundaries. As many as one hundred seventy-five member states backed up India’s idea on the draft UN General Assembly resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga.
“In recognizing its ability to provide healing, inner peace and physical, mental well-being, this day acknowledges that there is no other comparable practice,” said Mr. Guterres on June 21st during a world-wide celebration of international yoga day.
“Now yoga may have originated from India but currently the whole globe has taken up these values so as to be mindful with itself and others about equilibrium and stability in religious matters at home and beyond,” stated Mr. Guterres’ message posted on X by Permanent Mission of India at UN.
“This year’s theme ‘Yoga for Self and Society’ reminds us how important it is today in helping people live better lives across our communities. On this important day, let us all be inspired by Yoga’s timeless values and its call for a more peaceful and harmonious future,” commented the head of UN”.
The commemoration ceremony for the Tenth International Day was organised by Indian Mission at United Nations last year at North Lawn Area where Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Yoga day in historic celebrations nine years after he had proposed from UN platform that June 21 be designated as International Yoga Day.
U.N. envoys, staff members officials members ,expatriates as well as yoga devotees took part in this event. The yoga day starts with a ‘Namaste’ that Amina Mohammed, the UN Deputy Secretary-General greets the attendants and tells them that yoga unites the human soul, body and mind.
“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.
She also continued by saying: “The celebration of this day has grown ever since the UN General Assembly proclaimed June 21 as International day of Yoga a decade ago.”
“Today this tradition brings together millions of people every year from all over the world to highlight the importance of this timeless practice,” remarked Ms. Mohammed in reference to last year’s Guinness World Record breaking event during Yoga Day where most nationalities did Yoga together. The 2023 yoga session was attended by individuals from at least one hundred thirty-five nations.
“I was just fortunate enough to be one amongst several others there.” She added that this achievement became an excellent representation demonstrating Yoga’s global fame, its extensive influence and its capacity to unify humanity because of shared interests or objectives.
In his virtual message marked with ‘Namaste’, Dennis Francis President of 78th session of UNGA said that; for centuries Yoga has been an inseparable part of India’s cultural heritage.
“Over the years, it has permeated through the currents of cultural diffusion to every nook and cranny of the globe, with numerous devotees who look for its emotional, physical and psychological well-being,” he says.
He says that Yoga’s benefits such as peace of mind and happiness, physical power and suppleness, will power, empathy and compassion and inner peace are “values appropriate also to our multilateral efforts.” Mr. Francis emphasized Yoga’s code of conduct based on non-violence, truthfulness and contentment.
“These principles resonate deeply with the core values of the United Nations which are meant to promote peace, justice and human dignity all over the world. Thus I find in Yoga itself a powerful symbol for the United Nations,” he said.
Mr. Francis urged humanity to imbibe Yoga teaching not only as a sport but as a guiding philosophy for “our collaborative work towards a better future that is stronger for all.”
Charge d’affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative of India to UN Ambassador R. Ravindra noted that in 2014 alone there was an unprecedented embrace of Yoga by people worldwide making it a global symbol for well-being overall, healthiness or universal peace today.
On this occasion, UN Chamber Music Society played music from around the world while yoga masters led meditation sessions preceding yoga exercises.
