June 21, 2024 – Yoga, with its roots in India, has now taken the world by storm, uniting people through its values of balance, mindfulness, and peace, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In a message celebrating the 10th International Yoga Day, Guterres urged everyone to embrace the ancient practice’s call for a more peaceful and harmonious future.
Back in December 2014, the UN declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, thanks to a proposal by India, which was supported by a record 175 member states.
“Yoga has unmatched power to deliver healing, inner peace, and well-being,” Guterres said. He highlighted this year’s theme, ‘Yoga for Self and Society,’ which underscores yoga’s role in enhancing lives and communities.
The Permanent Mission of India to the UN celebrated the event at the UN Headquarters, with last year’s celebrations famously led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. UN envoys, personnel, and yoga enthusiasts gathered for this year’s commemoration, with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed greeting attendees with a ‘Namaste’. She emphasized that yoga is about unity—of mind, body, and spirit—and praised its ability to bring people together across cultures and countries.
President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, shared a virtual message, lauding yoga’s spread and its numerous benefits, which align with the core values of the United Nations.
Indian Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador R. Ravindra, noted the global embrace of yoga over the past decade, marking it as a symbol of well-being, health, and peace.
The event featured world music from the UN Chamber Music Society and guided yoga sessions, reinforcing yoga’s universal appeal and its power to unite humanity in shared well-being and harmony.
