International Yoga Day is celebrated on 21 June every year throughout the world. The aim of this day is to create awareness of the health benefits of yoga practices and educate people about the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits.

International Day of Yoga

International Day of Yoga is celebrated for the promotion of Yoga to come forward and spread the message about the rewards of regular practice of yoga among the general public. Every individual stands to gain from the regular practice of yoga through long-term benefits in health, happiness, and well-being.

Significance of Yoga

Yoga is an ancient physical mental and spiritual practice that originated 5,000 years ago in India. Yoga was developed as a way to interconnect the mind, body, and soul to step closer to enlightenment.

The word “Yoga” is derived from Sanskrit which means “To Join or To Unite” i.e. the union of body and consciousness. Today yoga is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity. The United Nations proclaimed the 21 June as the International Day of Yoga.

History of International Day of Yoga

The idea of the International Day of Yoga was first proposed by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on September 27, 2014, during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly. A resolution to establish June 21 as International Yoga Day was introduced by India’s Ambassador, Ashok Kumar Mukerji.

The date of June 21 was chosen as it is the Summer Solstice, the day when there is the most sun out of every other day of the year. Overall, it received support from 177 nations, the highest number of co-sponsors for any UN resolution, proclaiming June 21 as International Yoga Day.

The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on June 21, 2015, in India and around the world. Nearly 36,000 people, including Prime Minister Modi and many other high-profile political figures from all around the world, performed 21 asanas (yoga postures) for 35 minutes in New Delhi.

Logo Meaning: International Day of Yoga

The logo reflects harmony and peace for humanity, which is the essence of Yoga. The International Yoga Day logo is completely defined and has some meaning.

International Day of Yoga Logo

Joining Hands- Union

Folding of both hands in the logo Symbolise Yoga, the union, which reflects the union of individual consciousness with that of universal consciousness, a perfect harmony between mind & body, man & nature; a holistic approach to health & well-being.

Orange Halo- Fire Element

Brightness symbolizes the Fire element and

The Sun symbolizes the source of energy and inspiration.

Globe- Oneness
Green Leaves- Nature

The green leaves symbolize Nature,

Brown Leaves- Earth

The brown leaves symbolize the Earth element,

Blue Human Art- Water in Body

Blue symbolizes the Water element,

The theme of International Day of Yoga

• 2015: Yoga for Harmony and Peace
• 2016: Yoga for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
• 2017: Yoga for Health
• 2018: Yoga for Peace
• 2019: Yoga for Heart
• 2020: Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family
• 2021: Yoga for well-being

International Yoga Day Celebration in India

First International Yoga day

On 21 June 2015, the Indian Prime Minister and around 36,000 people celebrated the first International Day of Yoga at Rajpath in New Delhi. 21 yoga mudras or yoga postures for 35 minutes were performed there.

The ceremony established two Guinness World Records: the first to be the largest yoga class and the second the largest number of nationalities from 84 countries participated in the event. This award was presented to the Ministry of AYUSH and received by AYUSH minister Shripad Yesso Naik.

Second International Yoga day

On 21 June 2016 in Chandigarh, International Yoga Day was celebrated. AYUSH Ministry organized the event “The National Event of Mass Yoga Demonstration”, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many other people participated.

Third International Yoga Day

On 21 June 2017 in Lucknow Uttar Pradesh, the International Day of Yoga was celebrated and other new records were created. People from around 150 countries participated and the number of participants was up to 51,000.

Fourth International Yoga Day

On 21 June 2018 in Dehradun in Uttarakhand, the International Day of Yoga was celebrated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with around 55,000 enthusiasts performed Yoga.

Fifth International Yoga Day

On 21 June 2019, in Ranchi, Jharkhand International Yoga Day was celebrated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with around 18,000 participants including Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Ministers, and senior officials of the state participated in the Yoga celebration. International Yoga Day was celebrated at Prabhat Tara ground in the morning.

Sixth International Yoga Day

On 21 June 2020, the sixth international day of yoga was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country through electronic and digital media. Due to the current pandemic of COVID-19 mass gathering of the International Yoga Day celebration was not organized

Seventh International Yoga Day

21 June 2021 is going to be celebrated as the 7^th International Day of Yoga. The theme of International Yoga Day 2021 is “Yoga for well-being”.

This theme is relevant in today’s time as the world is still reeling from the major up heal of COVID-19.

International Yoga Day FAQs:-

When did International Yoga Day Start?

The first International Day of Yoga was observed around the world on June 21, 2015.

Why do we celebrate Yoga Day?

PM Modi, during his speech at the UNGA, said, “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 a sense of oneness with yourself, the world, and nature. Changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, can help in well-being. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”

Who started Yoga Day?

177 member states of the United Nations General Assembly endorsed PM Narendra Modi’s suggestion to celebrate June 21 as International Yoga Day.

What kind of equipment do I need to practice yoga?

The most important equipment is flexible athletic clothing and a yoga mat.

Why is June 21 celebrated as Yoga Day?

 June 21, also called the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year. Therefore, it was decided that International Yoga Day would be celebrated on this day.

What is Yoga and why do we celebrate it?

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.