International Yoga Day 2023: PM Narendra Modi To Lead Celebrations With People From Over 180 Countries At United Nations Headquarters In New York

New Delhi: Prime Minister Modi says, “Yoga 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 nature.”

This year, for the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the ninth annual celebrations for International Yoga Day at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Here’s a quick lowdown about the International Yoga Day and how India is prepping for the celebrations:

Why International Yoga Day Is Marked On June 21?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his maiden address at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2014 first proposed the idea for the adoption of an International Day of Yoga, describing the ancient Indian tradition as an invaluable gift to humankind. In the same year, on December, all 193 UN member states unanimously agreed to observe the International Day of Yoga on June 21, on the basis that the day highlights the importance of individuals and populations making healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health. This resulted in the inaugural celebration for the day the next year on June 21, 2015 and since then there has been no looking back.

Also Read: Days Ahead Of International Yoga Day, Celebrations Begin; UN Officials Look Forward To Doing Yoga With PM Modi

Theme For International Yoga Day 2023

Every year, International Yoga Day is marked with the designated theme. The first year, it was marked with the theme ‘Yoga for Harmony and Peace’, according to Ministry of Ayush. It also said that in 2015 the event also registered two Guinness World Records, one for 35,985 people practicing in a single Yoga session at a single venue and the other for most nationalities participating in a Yoga event.

This year, the theme chosen for International Yoga Day 2023 is “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which encapsulates to “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.

The primary objective of the International Yoga Day is to raise awareness about the ancient Indian practice of yoga and motivate people to practice on a daily basis for mental and physical well-being.

Also Read:International Yoga Day 2023: Five Asanas That Can Help You To Stay Fit And Healthy

The Preparations For The Big Day Of International Yoga Day 2023

According to news agency PTI, people from more than 180 countries will participate in Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Yoga Day celebrations in New York on June 21. It stated, people representing different walks of life and comprising diplomats, artists, academicians and entrepreneurs among others will join the celebrations of Yoga Day 2023.

Also Read:In Run-Up To International Yoga Day, NDMC To Organise 4-Day Camps At Eight Locations

As per Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal the International Yoga Day has received a tremendous response from the public and at least 25 crore people are expected to join this year’s celebrations in India. This year, while the global celebration of the Day will be led by PM Modi in New York, the national celebration will be led by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, the same venue from which PM Modi urged the UN to celebrate June 21 as International Yoga Day of Yoga in 2014.

According to the government, this year, there will be several special events like ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’, where Indian naval ships will be stationed at nine ports around the world. The Day will also be celebrated in North and South Pole regions in coordination with the Ministry of Earth Sciences at Indian research bases in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Also Read: More Than 1.25 Crore Persons To Take Part In International Yoga Day Events In Gujarat

In ‘Yoga Bharatmala’, Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force along with ITBP, BSF and BRO will make a chain of Yoga demonstration in unison.‘Yoga Sagarmala’ will witness yoga along the Indian coastline and there will be a yoga demonstration at the flight deck of INS Vikrant as well.

Not just that, to make the celebrations bigger, the prime minister has written to all village heads, appealing them to observe International Yoga Day 2023 at their nearest Anganwadi, health and wellness centres, and schools. In addition to that, around two lakh common service centres, Ayush Health and Wellness Centres will participate in the celebration.

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.