People of 135 nationalities participate in historic celebration commemorating the 9th annual International Day of Yoga
By Geeta Goindi
The Yoga Day observance spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations headquarters in New York set a Guinness World Record for most nationalities in a yoga session: people of 135 countries participated in the historic event.
It was a celebration of unity in diversity, a rare and memorable sight as the leader of the world’s largest democracy led a packed yoga program on June 21, the International Day of Yoga, his brainchild.
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Some nine years ago, Modi’s proposal for a yoga day was adopted at the UN, enthusiastically backed by 175 countries. This ancient Indian discipline for a healthy body and mind has come a long way, gaining global recognition and it continues to grow in popularity.
Scores of people around the globe participated in the current edition of International Yoga Day centered around the apt theme of ‘Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which encapsulates the aspiration for One Earth, One Family, and One Future.
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Modi arrived in New York, Tuesday, on the first leg of his maiden state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The five-day visit, June 20-24, includes a state dinner at the White House, an address to a joint session of Congress, meetings with business leaders, and an event with the diaspora. His first public engagement was the special yoga session at the UN headquarters.
Early on Wednesday morning, Modi performed yoga ‘asanas’ (postures) joined by a large gathering on made-in-India yoga mats which covered the spacious North Lawn of the UN Secretariat. On hand at the event were: New York City Mayor Eric Adams; Csaba Korosi, President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly; Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the UN; Ruchira Kamboj, India’s permanent representative to the UN; a number of other diplomats from across the world; and prominent personalities from various walks of life.
In his address at the UN event, Modi spoke of being “at the meeting point of the entire humanity”. Looking around at the sizable crowd, he gushed, “Almost every nationality is represented here today and what an amazing cause to bring us together: Yoga” which means to unite, he said.
“Last year, the entire world came together to support India’s proposal to celebrate 2023 as the International Year of Millets”, Modi noted, adding, “It is wonderful to see the entire world come together again for yoga”. The Indian leader is an ardent yoga practitioner and its most effective proponent.
“Yoga is free from copyrights, free from patents, and free from royalty”, he told the audience at the UN. “Yoga is adaptable to your age, gender and fitness level. Yoga is portable. You can do it at home or at work or in transit. Yoga is flexible. You can practice it alone or in a group, learn from a teacher or be self-taught. Yoga is unifying. It is for everyone, for all ethnicities, for all faiths and for all cultures. Yoga is truly universal”, he said.
“When we do yoga, we feel physically fit, mentally calm and emotionally content. But, it is not just about doing exercise on a mat”, Modi told the multinational crowd. “Yoga is a way of life, a holistic approach to health and well-being”, he said about India’s great gift to humanity.
The Indian leader concluded his address with a wish: May everyone be happy, may everyone be healthy.
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In his remarks, Korosi, who describes himself as an “ardent admirer of yoga”, spoke of the transformative power of this discipline. While it changes our physical performance, it can have a greater impact on our mental and intellectual abilities, he noted.
“Our world needs balance and self-control. Yoga is one of the means of achieving this”, he said.
Mayor Adams urged the attendees to put the spirit of yoga to good use – to challenge and fight against war, gender oppression, violence, lack of clean water, food insecurity, destruction of our planet. “What we do on the mat when we practice yoga must become what we do on the streets in our country”, he said. “We cannot become universally connected through the yellow mats we lay on, but disconnected as we move through our communities”.
The elected official stressed, “This International Yoga Day is an international call for us to stand up for humankind across the globe and all living beings”.
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Hollywood actor Richard Gere, upon arriving at the UN headquarters to participate in the yoga session, told reporters, “It is a very nice feeling here today. We hope this feeling intoxicates this entire building since we are responsible for each other”, he said.
In a video message played during the Yoga Day event, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres emphasized the unifying nature of yoga. “It unites body and mind, humanity and nature and millions of people across the globe for whom it is a source of strength, harmony and peace”, he said.
“In a dangerous and divided world, the benefits of this ancient practice are particularly precious. Yoga offers a haven of calm. It can reduce anxiety and promote mental well-being. It helps us to develop discipline and patience. It connects us to our planet which so badly needs our protection”, Guterres said.
The UN chief noted that yoga “reveals our common humanity, helping us to understand that despite our differences, we are one. On this International Day of Yoga, let us embrace the spirit of unity and resolve to build a better, more harmonious world for people, planet and ourselves”, he urged.
Following the event at the UN, Modi tweeted, “What a grand Yoga Day programme in New York! Grateful for the energy and commitment shown by all participants. This shows how Yoga unites us in the pursuit of health, peace, and harmony”.
Expressing gratitude to Korosi and Adams for joining the Yoga Day event, the Indian leader noted, “Their participation underscores the universal appeal of yoga, bridging nations and cultures for the common goals of health and peace”.
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