Happy International Yoga Day

Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice which originated in India. Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in his UN address suggested the date of 21 June, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares a special significance in many parts of the world.

The idea of an International Day of Yoga was first proposed by our current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on 27 September 2014.He stated:

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.

— Narendra Modi, UN General Assembly

Today Yoga Day will be observed in about 190 countries globally.