The Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowalannounced that the global celebration of International Day of Yoga will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA on the International Day of Yoga (IDY 2023) on 21st June, 2023.
The National celebration of IDY2023 will be led by Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. It may be noted that the PM Modi urged and persuaded the United Nations to celebrate June 21 as International Day Yoga at the same venue nine years ago in 2014.
Addressing at the curtain raiser press conference here, the Sonowal said, “As we move closer to the International Day of Yoga, we are taking the celebration of Yoga, one of the greatest gifts of India’s rich heritage to humanity, to another level this year. Our dynamic Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji will lead the yoga day celebrations from the UN Headquarters in New York. It has been nine years since UN recognised Yoga day celebration for June 21 after a passionate attempt by PM Narendra Modi convinced member states of the world to join in this wonderful celebration of positive mind and body. As PM Narendra Modi ji celebrates this year’s Yoga day by leading the global celebration of IDY from the United Nations, this is perfect tribute to this year’s motto Yoga for ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.”
Sarbananda Sonowal further said, “This year’s theme for IDY 2023 “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” aptly describes our aspiration for – ‘One Earth One Family One Future’. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam has been the guiding light for the Indian heritage since time immemorial and our ethos and socio-cultural fabric are woven around it. I sincerely hope through practice of Yoga the global community is able to find solutions to various current health challenges.”
On 21 June, Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar will lead the mass yoga demonstration in presence of Governor of Madhya Pradesh Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Union Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries Shri Prahalad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Women & Child Development and Ayush, Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Developmen Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, Minister of State for School Education (Independent Charge) and General Administration, Government of Madhya Pradesh Shri Inder Singh Parmar, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Water Resources, Government of Madhya Pradesh Shri Ram Kishore (Nano)Kawre, MP from Jabalpur Shri Rakesh Singh among others.
This year International Day of Yoga will witness many unique features like Ocean Ring of Yoga, where India naval ships will be stationed at 9 ports around the world and participate in CYP demonstration. Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways will also organize CYP demonstration in countries with whom they have signed a MoUs.
Yoga from Arctic to Antarctica is another feature in which MEA is coordinating with Ministry of Ayush to organise CYP in countries falling in and around Prime Meridian line besides UN member countries. Yoga on North Pole and South Pole regions will be held in coordination with MoES at Himadri-the Indian research base in Arctic and Bharati-the Indian research base in Antarctica.
Yoga Bharatmala has been conceptualised, where Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force along with ITBP, BSF, BRO will make a chain of Yoga demonstration in unison. Yoga Sagarmala will witness yoga along Indian coast line. There will be Yoga demonstration at the flight deck of INS Vikrant.
At National level this year International Day of Yoga will try to achieve “Har Aangan Yoga” by enabling observation of Yoga at village level. Our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has written a letter to all Gram Pradhans, appealing them to observe International Day of Yoga at their nearest Anganwadi, Health and Wellness Centres, and schools. In addition to that around 2 lakhs common service centres, Ayush Health & Wellness Centres of under National Ayush Mission, Ayush Gram and location of Amrit Sarovar will also participate in the celebration of International Day of Yoga.
The Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Ministry of External Affairs is hosting a photography contest “Yoga My Pride” on MyGov.in platform. National and International participants can upload a photo of themselves doing “Yogasanas” along with a caption apt for the photograph. National and International participants will be awarded prizes in three categories.
Y-break at workspaces was introduced by Ministry of Ayush with the aim to get de-stressed, refreshed, and re-focused at workspace. This year Y-break @ workspaces – Yoga in chair has been introduced, which can be done while sitting in chair. All ministries/departments of Government of India have been requested to ask their employees to practice Yoga in chair.
The international Day of Yoga is being celebrated with a whole government approach. All the key ministries of the Government of India, National and International leading Yoga institutes & organizations and other stakeholders are already participating in various run-up activities of IDY 2023. Along with these Indian missions and embassies, UN member states and WHO GCTM office in Jamnagar will also participate in the International Day of Yoga on 21st June 2023.
