International Yoga Day 2021: A look at celebrations across the globe
The World is celebrating the seventh International Yoga Day today. Though India, the place of origin of Yoga, celebrated it virtually due to the Covid Pandemic! Interestingly, Yoga is an age-old practice in the Indian Culture and it accounts for the physical and mental well-being of everyone! Though, it was only in 2014 that the UN recognized the importance of Yoga. Henceforth the world has been celebrating International Yoga Day on 21st June every year.
The theme for this year’s Yoga Day was “Yoga for well-being”. This article shows how people celebrated it across the globe!
International Yoga Day in India
In India, the Union Ministry of AAYUSH organized the virtual event.
The lead program of the event began at 6:30 am. During the event, Union Minister of State for AYUSH Kiran Rijiju and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation. While addressing the nation, PM Modi announced that India, along with United Nations and WHO, is launching an app called M-Yoga. The application is aimed at providing easy access to Yogic practice all over the world. The ministry also initiated the preparation of a theme song! This was sung by Kailash Kher, Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, Sonu Nigam, and several international artists!
Alongside, they also showed images from different parts of the country. The images depicted people marking the International Yoga Day by practicing Yoga in small groups. Further, they showed the Defence Forces performing Yoga despite being located in difficult terrains. This included Security Personnels performed Yoga at an altitude of 18,000 ft in Ladakh. Also, navvy personnel while being on a ship deployed for missions.
During his address to the nation, PM Narendra Modi implied the importance of Yoga. He also stated the importance of Physical, Mental, and spiritual well-being. Further, he said that Yoga is a way of living a long, healthy, and happy life! He also said that we ourselves are the biggest source of energy in our universe.
Along with the PM, the President too celebrated the day from Rashtrapati Bhawan. Other ministers and prominent celebrities like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kiara Advani, Amitabh Bachchan, Shilpa Shetty, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, and others took to social media and wished for everyone’s health and well-being! Even common people too showed their Yoga Poses and took the social media by storm!
International Yoga Day in USA
International Yoga day received much love across the globe. In the US, people gathered at the New York Times Square and practiced Yoga. The Consulate General of India in New York partnered with the Times Square Alliance. Thus, on Sunday, the organizations hosted the event together. Over 3,000 people attended the day-long event which was themed ‘Solstice’.
On this occasion, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC also celebrated by practicing Yoga.
Indian Embassy in Nepal
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu Nepal organized a virtual Yoga session to celebrate International Yoga Day! The theme for them this year was, “Be with Yoga, Be at Home”. This theme was chosen amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. They chose it to encourage people to stay at home!
Other countries like the middle-east, Russia, Europe too celebrated this day, following the Covid Norms. The Indian Embassy in these countries facilitated the same!
This rising popularity of Yoga is a symbol of the rich heritage of Indian culture. Needless to say, Yoga is a boon in this century where depression and an unhealthy lifestyle have become a norm.
We wish more people could take up Yoga and lead a long healthy and happy life!!
Also Read: Summer Solstice 2021: Everything you need to know about this day
