The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations organised the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UN Headquarters in New York, bringing together nearly 800 participants from diverse backgrounds to mark the global observance of the ancient Indian practice.
According to the Indian Mission to the UN, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish P, highlighted Yoga’s growing global reach and its role in promoting holistic well-being. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also delivered a special message on the occasion.
The event featured sessions based on the Common Yoga Protocol and an advanced yoga demonstration by the Art of Living Foundation. Yogmata Keiko Aikawa, regarded as the first female and non-Indian Siddha Master, also participated in the celebrations.
The event at the UN Headquarters is part of a wider series of programmes being organised across the United States ahead of the International Day of Yoga on June 21.
Large-scale Yoga events are scheduled at several iconic locations, including the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Times Square in New York City and Navy Pier in Chicago. This year’s theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” focuses on the role of Yoga in promoting physical mobility, mental wellness and healthy longevity.
The Indian Embassy in Washington has invited members of the public to join a flagship Yoga session at the Lincoln Memorial. Earlier, the mission organised a curtain-raiser event at the historic DuPont Circle to build momentum for the celebrations.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Yoga guru, H.R. Nagendra, will lead a major Yoga gathering at Times Square on June 21. The event is being coordinated by the Consulate General of India in New York and is expected to witness large participation.
(ANI)
