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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the celebrations of the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY) in Srinagar, Kashmir on June 21. This year’s theme is “Yoga for Self and Society”, reminding people of the important role of yoga in improving their lives and the larger community.
PM Modi will be celebrating IDY in Srinagar, marking his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since assuming office for the third consecutive term as Prime Minister.
Amid heightened security, as many as 10,000 people are expected to join the Prime Minister on the shores of Dal Lake. He will take part in the event at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), built on acres of green carpet and now one of the newest and most modern convention centres in the country.
On the occasion, PM Modi will address the rally and later take part in a Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) yoga session.
The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated on June 21, 2015. Since then, Prime Minister Modi has led IDY celebrations at various iconic locations including Kartaviya Patho in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysore and even at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
On this day, various events such as mass yoga sessions, workshops and seminars are held across the country and the world.
In his message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the International Day of Yoga recognises the ancient practice of yoga’s unique healing power, its ability to bring inner peace and physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing.
“With its roots in India and now embraced by people of all faiths and cultures around the world, yoga unites people with its values of balance, mindfulness and peace for people and the planet,” he said, adding that on this momentous day, “let us all be inspired by yoga’s timeless values and its call for a more peaceful and harmonious future.”
The Indian Embassy in the US organised a yoga session in Washington ahead of International Yoga Day. In a post by X, the Indian Embassy shared, “The Embassy of India in the US celebrated International Yoga Day 2024 at a picturesque and tranquil pier in Washington. Various community organisations enthusiastically participated in the yoga and meditation sessions.”
The Indian Embassy in the UK also hosted a yoga event ahead of IDY at Trafalgar Square in London, which attracted over 700 participants.
The day was also celebrated at the Indian Embassy in Maldives. The event was attended by yoga enthusiasts from Maldives and India.
Army soldiers and dog squads perform yoga at the Line of Control (LoC) on the eve of IDY in Jammu division.
The idea of IDY was first proposed by Prime Minister Modi on September 27, 2014, during his address to the United Nations General Assembly. The Prime Minister spoke about the ancient tradition of yoga and its potential to promote global health and peace. Following this proposal, on December 11, 2014, the United Nations officially declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga, with support from 177 member states.
