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India hosts 11th International Day of Yoga at UN headquarters
The gathering included UN diplomats, officials, Yoga organizations, and members of the Indian diaspora.
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Pranavi Sharma - Sat, 21, Jun 2025
- 02:26 EDT
- 21
Participants performing yoga at the event. / Courtesy Photo
The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations held the 11th International Day of Yoga celebration at the North Lawn of the UN Headquarters in New York on June 20, drawing over 1,200 participants from across the world.
The event was themed "Yoga for One Earth, One Health", reflecting the integrated approach to human and planetary well-being that India promoted during its G20 presidency in 2023.
The gathering included UN diplomats, officials, Yoga organizations, and members of the Indian diaspora. The Chair of the International Day of Yoga Committee at the UN, Dennis Scotto, served as Master of Ceremony. The program featured Common Yoga Protocol sessions, an advanced Yoga demonstration with music by the Art of Living Foundation, and a guided meditation by Dr. Deepak Chopra.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, opened the event by noting Yoga’s growing global reach. / Courtesy Photo.India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, opened the event by noting Yoga’s growing global reach. He said the practice has evolved into “a powerful force for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being across geographies, age groups, and backgrounds.”
“Yoga, rooted in India’s ancient wisdom and guided by the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family—is much more than physical movement,” he added. “It is a holistic discipline that cultivates inner balance, mindfulness, and a sense of responsibility in daily life.”
The International Day of Yoga was first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in 2014. The resolution was endorsed by 175 member states and June 21 was declared as the annual day of observance.
The gathering included UN diplomats, officials, Yoga organizations, and members of the Indian diaspora. / Courtesy Photo.
In previous years, the UN event has drawn widespread attention, including in 2023 when it set a Guinness World Record for the highest number of nationalities participating in a single Yoga session.
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