21 June was declared as the International Yoga Day by the United Nations General Assembly on 11 December 2014.[1] Yoga, a 5,000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice having its origin in India, aims to transform body and mind. The declaration came after the call for the adoption of 21 June as International Yoga Day by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014[2][3][4][5] wherein he stated:
“Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; 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 us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.”[6]
Narendra Modi further stated that “Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well being.” [7] In suggesting June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, Narendra Modi had said that the date, one of the two solstices, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.[8]
