Un to celebrate World’s ‘most diverse’ Yoga daY
On 21 June, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev will lead the celebrations at the circle in front of the glass-fronted UN headquarters.
how yoga has influenced their life styles at this seminal event.”
Vasudev will be the lead speaker at the event organised jointly by India’s UN Permanent Mission and the UN Department of Public Information.
The meeting will incorporate a digital interactive element by welcoming questions about yoga on the Twitter handle # Yoga4SDGs that will be answered by Vasudev and Tao Porchon-Lynch. The 97-yearold Porchon-Lynch is considered the world’s oldest yoga teacher in a formal setting, and is an author and a former actress, documentary film-maker and screenplay writer.
In a unique demonstration of how yoga can promote peace, the 7,695 Indian peacekeepers are to join in the celebrations. “Indian peace keepers are also practising to observe International Yoga Day in 13 Peace Keeping Operations that they are deployed in, tangibly demonstrating the role of yoga in promoting peace and harmony,” Akbaruddin said.
The International Yoga Day was proclaimed unanimously in 2014 by the General Assembly following up a proposal made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Making the case for the international day, Modi told the Assembly, “Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health, and well being.”
The first Yoga Day celebrations were held last year at the UN and around the world.
Yoga is relevant to achieving at least four of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. These are ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages; making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns, and promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies.