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2016 is second edition of the International Day of Yoga

Wednesday 22nd of June 2016

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The International Day of Yoga was on 21 June 2016 observed across the world with the theme Connect the Youth.


The year 2016 it is second edition of the International Day of Yoga.  This year’s observance seeks to highlight the important role healthy living plays in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were adopted by all 193 UN member states in 2015.


United Nations General Assembly has declared 21st of June as an International Yoga Day on 11th of December in 2014. Yoga in India is considered to be around 5,000 year old mental, physical and spiritual practice. Yoga was originated in India in ancient time when people were used of meditation to transform their body and mind. Launching a particular date of practicing yoga all across the world and celebrating as yoga day was initiated by the Indian Prime Minister to the United Nations General Assembly.


Yoga is very necessary and beneficial for all human being if it is practiced by all on daily basis in the early morning.  Official name of this day is UN International Yoga Day and also called as Yoga Day. It is a worldwide event celebrated by the people of all countries through practicing yoga, meditation, debates, meetings, discussions, variety of cultural performances, etc


To mark the day, several events were organised across the world to highlight the importance of Yoga. In India, Union Government had organised National Event of Mass Yoga Demonstration at the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh. In this event Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had performed yoga.


Background




  • The idea of celebrating the International Yoga Day was pitched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2014.




  • In December 2014, UNGA had unanimously adopted India-led resolution to observe 21st June as ‘International Day of Yoga’.




  • This resolution was adopted under the agenda of ‘Global Health and Foreign Policy’.




  • 21st June was selected because it represents summer solstice (one of the two solstices) and it is the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere which has special significance in many parts of the world.




About Yoga




  • Yoga is a physical, mental or spiritual practice attributed mostly to India.




  • The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit language which means to unite or to join, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.




  • Maharishi Patanjali is considered as the ‘father of Yoga’. He had compiled 195 Yoga Sutras which had become the foundation of Yoga philosophy.




  • The commentary on these sutras is called Bhasya and the core essence of Patanjali’s yoga philosophy is the eightfold path of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) that focusses upon healthy living through Yoga.




  • It has been attributed that Yoga balances body and soul, mental and physical well-being. It promotes harmony among people and between ourselves and the natural world.




History of World Yoga Day




  • Celebrating yoga day all over the world as World Yoga Day or International Day of Yoga on 21st of June every year was declared by the United Nations General Assembly on 11th of December in 2014. The declaration was done after the call by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to the United Nations General Assembly on 27th of September in 2014 during his address to the UN General Assembly. He call the United Nations General Assembly for adopting 21st of June as an International Yoga Day to get all the benefits of yoga for the people all around the world.




  • Narendra Modi has said during his address to the UN General Assembly that “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.”




  • The declaration of International Day of Yoga is the great moment for the India in the history. It took less than three months to be declared as the World Yoga Day by the United Nations General Assembly. Narendra Modi had called for it on 27th of September in 2014 which was finally declared on 11th of December in 2014. It was first ever in the history that the initiative of any country has been proposed and implemented in the UN body within 90 days. This resolution has been adopted under the Global Health and Foreign Policy by the General Assembly in order to provide a holistic approach to the people worldwide for their health and well-being.




  • In order to create a great level of consciousness and positively changing the lifestyle of worldwide human population Indian PM, Mr. Narendra Modi has put his views for adopting a day especially for yoga while address to the United Nations General Assembly. He asked to the world leaders for adopting international Yoga day to deal with the declining health because of negative climate changes. Especially, he suggested 21st of June for adopting the International Day of Yoga as this day is the longest day in Northern Hemisphere regions as well as of great significance for people in many parts of the world.



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