Tag: YOGA DAY

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Indian FM leads Yoga day celebrations in Abu Dhabi

Indian FM Dr S. Jaishankar, along with Indian Ambassador to UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, led the Yoga Day celebrations at the Louvre Abu Dhabi….reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday participated in the 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Abu Dhabi.

Jaishankar, along with Indian Ambassador to UAE, Sunjay Sudhir, led the Yoga Day celebrations at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, “Joined international yoga enthusiasts @LouvreAbuDhabi as we celebrate the #InternationalDayofYoga 2024 in the UAE.”

In his remarks before performing Yoga, Jaishankar noted that Yoga is an Indian tradition but it has now become a truly universal practice. He stated that International Day of Yoga has acted as a motivation, as a magnet, as a method of really gathering people, spreading the practice, actually in a way keeping the planet happier, healthier, more connected.

Jaishankar said, “I am really very happy to be able to join so many of you today in Abu Dhabi. I happen to be here today and I heard about the event and I agree with you that Yoga is an Indian tradition but I think it has now become a truly universal practice.”

“We are very pleased to see in the last 10 years how the International Day of Yoga has acted as a motivation, as a magnet, as a method of really gathering people, spreading the practice, actually in a way keeping the planet happier, healthier, more connected. So, it’s really for me a great pleasure to join you all this evening,” he added.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Yoga on June 21. In December 2014, the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by India to celebrate the International Day of Yoga on June 21 which is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Jaishankar, who is on an official visit to the UAE, visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. He said that the temple is a true cultural bridge between India and the UAE.

Following his visit to the temple, Jaishankar in a post on X wrote, “Blessed to visit the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi today. A visible symbol of India-UAE friendship, it radiates a positive message to the world and is a true cultural bridge between our two countries.” (ANI)

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Modi leads Yoga Day celebrations in Srinagar

Prime Minister says India’s proposal regarding the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations was supported by 177 nations…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people of the country to make yoga a part of their daily lives as the world celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga on Friday.

Modi performed Yoga at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar today. “As we mark the 10th International Day of Yoga, I urge everyone to make it a part of their daily lives. Yoga fosters strength, good health and wellness. Wonderful to join this year’s programme in Srinagar,” the Prime Minister posted on social media platform X.

He congratulated all the people of the country and those doing Yoga in every corner of the world and said the world is witnessing a new Yoga economy going forward for the last 10 years.

Speaking at the event in Srinagar, the Prime Minister said that India’s proposal regarding the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations was supported by 177 nations.

“Today, from the land of Kashmir, I congratulate everyone around the world on International Yoga Day! Ten years ago, I proposed the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations. India’s proposal was supported by 177 nations, which is a record in itself. In 2015, on Kartavyapath in Delhi, 35,000 people performed Yogasanas together,” he said.

“On International Yoga Day, I have had the privilege of coming to Kashmir, the land of yoga and meditation. In Srinagar, we are feeling the power that yoga gives us. I congratulate all the people of the country and those doing Yoga in every corner of the world on International Yoga Day from the land of Kashmir,” Modi said.

He said that in the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to Yoga adding that the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward.

“In the last 10 years, the expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to Yoga. Today, the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward. From Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala, we can witness a new trend of Yoga Tourism emerging in India. People from all over the world are coming to India in pursuit of learning authentic yoga. Accordingly, sectors related to hospitality, tourism, apparel, etc. are booming from the huge inflow of people. This is creating new avenues for employment opportunities for youth,” PM Modi said.

This year’s theme, “Yoga for Self and Society,” emphasizes yoga’s vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony.

Foreign diplomats celebrate Yoga Day

Foreign diplomats in India celebrated the 10th International Yoga Day on Friday with External Minister S Jaishankar and other senior officials from the External Affairs Ministry.

High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to India, Lindy Cameron emphasised that Yoga is India’s gift to the world.

Expressing her joy at participating in the yoga session, Cameron said, “It was fantastic to be here in Delhi and able to practice yoga on International Yoga Day with EAM Jaishankar…So actually to be here with all the diplomatic corps was fantastic. I think it really is India’s gift.”

British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott emphasised that it was a privilege to join EAM Jaishankar and other officials of the MEA and to hear Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speaking from Srinagar.

“It was a really, really good session today, led by doctor Jaishankar and real privileged to join him and the senior team from the MEA and to hear Prime Minister Modi as well, giving his thoughts from Srinagar. We enjoy yoga a lot at the British High Commission. It’s India’s gift to the world and it was a real pleasure to be here today,” Scott told ANI.

Norway’s ambassador to India May-Elin Stener said that she witnessed the moment when the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 voted to create the International Yoga Day.

Emphasising, “I love yoga”, Stener said, “I think this practice was very, very good. I learned new things about breathing on Yoga Day. Happy International Yoga Day, everyone. This is the 10th International Yoga Day. I was in the United Nations General Assembly when it was voted over in December 2014. So I’m very happy to be here in India on the 10th International Day of Yoga.”

United Nations Resident Coordinator in India Shombi Sharp said that it has been a wonderful morning invigorating here celebrating the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Yoga launched by Prime Minister Modi in New York.

“Really this is a wonderful way to celebrate harmony between the individual spirit and community. And we see this, the UN, we see this as a path towards health, a path towards peace,” he said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday, performed yoga with the diplomats in the national capital and said that yoga has been a great bonding point for different cultures when it comes to building international relations. (ANI)

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Times Square Transforms into ‘Mind Over Madness’ Yoga Oasis

The Indian Consulate General was the sponsor of the first event of the day and Consul General Binaya Pradhan greeted the yogis and highlighted the benefits of the ancient art…reports Asian Lite News

Thousands of yogis created an island of stillness in the frenetic whirl of ‘Crossroads of the World’.

Aptly named, ‘Mind Over Madness’, the day-long yoga event featured seven massed yoga practices that included lessons for newbies at Times Square, on Thursday, the Summer Solstice Day.

“People seek stillness, they seek that peace in a frenetic world that we live in, and what better place than at Times Square to really practise that,” said Tracy Warfield, a yoga teacher, as she prepared to lead a session.

Cealia Brannan, another yoga teacher who led a session, said the day’s celebration “I feel like it’s kind of homage to yoga”.

In the microcosm of the world — people with origins across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and beyond — stood with Swati of Indian origin warming up for a session with her husband and two sons.“I’m immensely proud that it has become a global phenomenon,” she said.

“I love it that people are coming to embrace the Indian culture and Indian values and they are adapting and embracing spirituality,” she said.

The Indian Consulate General was the sponsor of the first event of the day and Consul General Binaya Pradhan greeted the yogis and highlighted the benefits of the ancient art.

It was the longest day, and also the hottest so far this year at 33 degrees Celsius.

About 8,000 people had pre-registered for the event, according to the organisers, and thousands more dropped by.

As the yogis reached for Nirvana in the media strip of Times Square, overhead ads for movies, luxury watches, clothes and food and drinks floated by on electronic billboards, the NASDAQ building flashed the ups and downs of the stock market, characters dressed as the Statue of Liberty and Walt Disney characters sauntered, the area fixture “Naked Cowboy” strummed his guitar, and gawking tourists stopped to watch and sometimes imitate the asanas impromptu.

“I think it’s very easy to get caught up in the world, especially all the things that are going on now,” said Warfield. “And you get this opportunity to just be together. Enjoy the practice. Enjoy your body. Enjoy your breath, and enjoy life”.

Swati said of the differing approaches to ancient art, “In India, it’s more intense here is more fun”.

Warfield brought that out asking the yogis at the start to “smile, turn your head, make contact, say, ‘I love you’”.

“It’s that kind of yoga,” she told the participants in the session she was leading.

The ‘Mind Over Madness’ yoga celebrations at Times Square on Solstice Day have been going on for 22 years, starting a dozen years before the United Nations General Assembly created the International Day of Yoga.

Cofounder of the event, Douglas Stewart said that the millennia-old yoga from India is relevant to the people of New York as everywhere as it is “a template for living” relating mind, body and spirit creating a relationship with nature”.

“It slowly begins to unfold to other parts of the world and will continue to express itself as a template for life,” he said.

According to the Centres for Disease Control, one in about six Americans now practise yoga — 17 per cent or about 55 million people.

About 30 per cent of them do yoga to treat and manage pain, the federal agency said in a brief published this month.

Many of the yoga enthusiasts at Times Square like Brannan and Warfield said they first came to yoga seeking a panacea for pain.

“I started because I had low back pain,” Brannan said. “But then I just started realising all the other awesome ways that I felt after” starting yoga.

Swati said that as a parent coordinator at her sons’ international school “I promote yoga there”.

“I promoted it to other friends who are not Indian, and they are here today,” she added.

She said they also practise yoga at her gym.

The Indian Consulate had earlier arranged yoga classes at Bryant Park and Central Park.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)

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Modi to Lead Yoga Day in Srinagar

Over 7,000 people from various walks of life will join the Prime Minister on the banks of Dal Lake, Srinagar to mark this special occasion….reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the 10th International Day of Yoga celebrations at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) in Srinagar on Friday.

As PM Modi performs yoga asanas on the banks of Srinagar’s Dal Lake, with thousands of residents of Jammu and Kashmir, it is set to get global coverage besides spurring a series of celebrations across the globe with some unique events like ‘Yoga for Peace’.

Over 7,000 people from various walks of life will join the Prime Minister on the banks of Dal Lake, Srinagar to mark this special occasion.

Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and Ayush Minister Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav will also join the programme.

This year’s theme, ‘Yoga for Self and Society’, emphasises yoga’s vital role in fostering both individual well-being and societal harmony.

The event aims to bring together thousands of participants carrying messages to promote global health and wellness through the practice of yoga.

On the occasion, PM Modi will also address the gathering and participate in the Common Yoga Protocol session, highlighting yoga’s significance in nurturing physical, mental, and spiritual growth.

Notably, PM Modi has been a pivotal figure in promoting yoga globally.

Since 2015, PM Modi has led the IDY celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Jabalpur, and even the UN Headquarters in New York.

His leadership has significantly boosted Yoga’s global popularity and recognition.

In the last 10 years, IDY has set four Guinness Book of World Records.

In 2015, a total of 35,985 Indians performed Yoga at Rajpath along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In 2023, a total of around 23.4 crore people from across the world participated in the IDY event.

As a special initiative, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is organising a unique initiative, ‘Yoga for Space’, to mark the International Day of Yoga 2024.

All scientists and officials of ISRO will perform Yoga together as per the Common Yoga Protocol guidelines.

The team from the Gaganyaan project is also set to join the global campaign of International Yoga Day by practicing yoga on the occasion.

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Indian Embassy Kicks Off Yoga Day with DC Session

Outlining the theme of International Yoga Day 2024, “Yoga for Self and Society”, the event also aimed to promote adopting environment-friendly products and practices in daily life…reports Asian Lite News

The Indian Embassy in the US has organised a Yoga session in Washington ahead of International Yoga Day, which is celebrated worldwide on June 21.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy shared, “International Yoga Day 2024 celebrated by the Indian Embassy in the US at the picturesque and serene Wharf in Washington. Various community organisations participated enthusiastically in the Yoga and meditation session.”

Emphasising the global reach and popularity of Yoga, Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy Supriya Ranganathan noted that the ancient practice of Yoga has travelled far and wide following its inception in India and today there are hundreds of millions of followers of this discipline around the world.

Outlining the theme of International Yoga Day 2024, “Yoga for Self and Society”, the event also aimed to promote adopting environment-friendly products and practices in daily life.

“Highlighting International Yoga Day 2024 theme celebrating #YogaForSelfAndSociety, the event included elements to inspire the embrace of environment-friendly products and practices in daily life,” the Embassy stated in another post.

ALSO READ: UN readies for Yoga Day

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UN readies for Yoga Day

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Yoga for Women Empowerment’ and it will be featured on the North Lawn of the UN headquarters, reports Arul Louis

Citizens from around the globe will gather on Friday to show the uniting power of yoga across boundaries and divisions as the world organisation celebrates the 10th International Day of Yoga.

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Yoga for Women Empowerment’ and it will be featured on the North Lawn of the UN headquarters where diplomats, UN officials and employees, and aficionados of the ancient art will perform asanas in synchronicity.

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed is expected to participate in the event and a video message from General Assembly President Dennis Francis is anticipated.

The global celebrations with millions participating every year were set in motion by the General Assembly in December 2014 when it declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in a resolution proposed by India, cosponsored by 175 countries and adopted unanimously.

The date was chosen because the Summer Solstice falls on that day in the northern hemisphere most years, although it is a day early this year and next.

The yoga celebration is here at 6 p.m. New York Time (3:30 a.m. IST Saturday) will be webcast by the UN.

With a blazing temperature of 35 degrees Centigrade, it will be held on a day that is forecast to be the hottest so far this year.

India’s UN Mission is cosponsoring it with the UN Secretariat.

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the yoga celebration at the UN and it made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for the most nationalities — 135 — participating in yoga practice at one place.

On the day of the Solstice, Thursday, the annual ‘Mind over Madness’ event will be held at Times Square with day-long yoga sessions creating an island of calm and serenity amid the cacophony and the bustle of the place known as ‘the Crossroads of the World’.

India’s Consulate General is one of the sponsors of the event that runs from 7.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. and features seven yoga classes run by instructors of several ethnicities and national origin showing yoga’s universality.

Modi presented the idea of an International Day of Yoga in September 2014 at his first address to the General Assembly, declaring, “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition”.

Asoke Kumar Mukerji, who was then the permanent representative, rounded up the 175 cosponsors cutting across international divisions and had it adopted within three months — likely a record for the quickest passage of a resolution at the General Assembly.

Indian embassy organises yoga session

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in the US organised a Yoga session in Washington, DC ahead of the 10th edition of the International Day of Yoga.

A large number of people participated in the yoga session on Thursday organised at The Wharf in Washington, DC.

Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Ambassador at the Indian embassy in the US, said that India has brought yoga to the centre stage.

“The role that India has played in bringing this centre stage, taking it to the UN and making this a day in which we come together to recognize the power of yoga and to recognize how yoga can add value to our lives and how yoga is very contemporary,” she said.

Since 2015, the International Day of Yoga has been celebrated across the world annually on June 21, following its adoption by the United Nations in 2014.

Ranganathan further said that it goes back 5000-6000 years, however, it remains so current.

“It’s an ancient tradition. It’s a wellness tradition that goes back 5000, 6000 years, but it remains so current,” she said.

The Deputy Ambassador further stressed that the value of yoga has now far more appreciation, adding that it has become a part of every family, community and institution.

“There is far more of an appreciation of the value of yoga. It’s become really a part of every family, every community, every institution to start thinking about how yoga can bring value to their lives and to help the members of that community and their families in dealing with the challenges that we face in the world today,” she said.

Ranganathan added that now, even young people and students are also very involved in this and look at yoga as a wholesome and holistic tradition.

“I see wherever I go in the US that young people, students, particularly kids in college…are very involved in this. Initially, they come in in terms of seeing this as a physical fitness tradition. But I think they move on very quickly to see what a wholesome and holistic tradition,” she said.

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Yoga Day celebrations at the British Parliament

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Sciences and Secretariat Amarjeet Singh Bhamra celebrated International Yoga Day at the House of Commons recently. Several key dignitaries have spoken at the event, both in person and virtually. Virendra Sharma MP rendered opening words and stressed the importance of Yoga as a continuous activity. Lord Ranger highlighted how Yoga transcends politics and religion and is a tool to control the body and mind.

Baroness Verma speaking at the Yoga Day celebrations

Ms. Ovessa Iqbal, First Secretary- Political representing the High Commission of India reiterated Yoga as a mental, physical & spiritual practice, and highlighted the initiatives surrounding Yoga. Neuroscientist and leader of the Transcendental Meditation movement Dr. Tony Nader joined via video and shared his thoughts on the aspects of Yoga for happiness, prosperity & wellness, and bringing nourishment to life. He further elucidated the stress indicators for which Yoga is a solution.

Mata Amrutanandamayi’s video message

Humanitarian Guru Mata Amritanandamayi Devi’s video message was played which highlighted how Yoga was a priceless boon given by sages of India to the world, which channels praana shakti in the right direction and increases mental strength & focus. Baroness Verma, one of the founding members of APPG Indian Traditional Sciences underscored how it took one effective leadership to bring centuries-old Yoga to come to the fore, and added that instead of depending on a small group of people to deliver massive projects, each must try and make all 365 days the Yoga days.

Dr Tony Nader joins the Yoga Day celebrations via video

A beautiful classical dance presentation by Ragasudha Vinjamuri covered the yogic aspects of Lord Shiva on a research composition from the time of the Tanjavur Maratha Kingdom.

Nitya Jagannadhan joined from India, and spoke on Yoga-based interventions, holistic context in healing and its strength of integrated approach with other systems such as Ayurveda. Dr. Sanjay Jadhav from Dubai related Yoga as expansion of one’s own consciousness, and reiterated that Yoga is not working out, but is working in. Kamu Palan demonstrated important mudras that would help in Blood Pressure control, hearing, memory and cell rejuvenation. Ayurveda Ratan Dr Polishetty Ravi shared some key inputs and emphasised on generating data for further scientific research.

Amarjeet Singh Bhamra speaking at the Yoga Day celebrations

The event concluded with Swami Anubhavananda’s message, who through his hilarious anecdotes explained how Yoga is happiness and how people should learn from every experience in life. On the occasion, some of the Ayurvedic practitioners were conferred recognition for their fervent services to the field.

Swami Anubhavananda speaking at the Yoga Day celebrations
Kamu Palan demonstrating useful mudras
Lord Ranger speaking at the Yoga Day celebrations

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Modi leads Yoga Day event at UN  

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated worldwide annually on June 21 since 2015, after PM Modi’s proposal to dedicate a day to celebrating the ancient Indian fitness routine was formally accepted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014…reports Asian Lite News

The special Yoga session led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the lawns of the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday entered the Guinness Book of World Records for drawing the people of most nationalities performing Yoga together.

Prime Minister Modi led a special Yoga session on the lawns of the UN headquarters to mark the 9th edition of the International Day of Yoga. “Today, there was a Guinness World Records title attempt for most nationalities in a Yoga lesson. The mark to be was 140 nationalities. Today, in New York, at the UN, they had 135. It is a new Guinness world records title…,” Michael Empric, official adjudicator, Guinness World Records, said.

Addressing the special event, PM Modi said, “Yoga comes from India, it is a very old tradition. Yoga is free of copyrights, patents and royalty payments. Yoga is adaptable to your age, gender and fitness level. Yoga is portable and is truly universal.”

He added that last year, the entire world came together to support India’s proposal to celebrate 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’ and it was wonderful to see people, across nationalities, coming together again to mark Yoga Day.

“Let us use the power of Yoga not only to be healthy, and happy but also to be kind to ourselves and to each other. Let us use the power of Yoga to build bridges of friendship, a peaceful world and a cleaner, greener and sustainable future. Let us join hands together to realise the goal of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’,” PM Modi added.

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated worldwide annually on June 21 since 2015, after PM Modi’s proposal to dedicate a day to celebrating the ancient Indian fitness routine was formally accepted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014.

In his 2014 address to the UNGA, Prime Minister Modi proposed June 21 as the date for marking International Yoga Day as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has a special significance in many parts of the world. (ANI)

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UN HQ gears up for Modi-led Yoga Day celebrations

PM Modi will lead a 9th edition of International Yoga Day on June 21 at the United Nations headquarters in New York…reports Asian Lite News

Preparations are underway at the United Nations Headquarters lawns in New York ahead of the Yoga Day celebrations which will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM Modi will lead a 9th edition of International Yoga Day on June 21 at the United Nations headquarters in New York during his official state visit to the United States. Prime Minister is visiting the United States at the invitation of President Joe Biden from June 20-24.

The International Day of Yoga is celebrated on June 21.

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated worldwide annually on June 21 since 2015, following its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India.

In his 2014 UN address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested the date of June 21, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares a special significance in many parts of the world.

After the yoga day celebration in New York, PM Modi will then travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue.

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a State Dinner in honour of the Prime Minister the same evening, according to a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

PM Modi will at the invitation of US Congressional Leaders, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Speaker of the Senate Charles Schumer, address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress on June 22.

On June 23, the prime minister will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and State Secretary Antony Bilnken.In addition to official engagements, the Prime Minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Arctic and Antarctic regions to celebrate Yoga Day

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Arctic and Antarctic regions to celebrate Yoga Day

Yoga demonstrations will be conducted at the Indian Arctic Station, Himadri, and the Antarctic Station, Bharati…reports Asian Lite News

In a global celebration of International Yoga Day on June 21, yoga sessions are set to take place at India’s research stations in the Arctic and Antarctic regions besides countries located along and near the prime meridian line. The prime meridian, known as the line of 0° longitude, serves as the reference point for measuring distance around the Earth in both eastern and western directions.

According to an official from the Ayush Ministry, yoga demonstrations will be conducted at the Indian Arctic Station, Himadri, and the Antarctic Station, Bharati, in addition to countries falling along and near the Prime Meridian Line.

In an initiative called the ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga,’ yoga activities will be held at Indian naval bases, ports, and marine vessels in 34 countries worldwide, including the USA, Russia, Portugal, and Morocco.

Indian naval ships will be stationed at nine ports across the globe, where they will actively participate in demonstrations of the Common Yoga Protocol. Furthermore, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways will organize Common Yoga Protocol demonstrations in countries with which they have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

To showcase unity and synchronisation, the ‘Yoga Bharatmala’ project has been conceived, involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police), BSF (Border Security Force), and BRO (Border Roads Organization). They will create a chain of yoga demonstrations together. Another initiative, ‘Yoga Sagarmala,’ will witness yoga sessions along the Indian coastline. Additionally, a yoga demonstration is planned at the flight deck of INS Vikrant.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway at the United Nations Headquarters lawns in New York ahead of the Yoga Day celebrations which will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM Modi will lead a 9th edition of International Yoga Day on June 21 at the United Nations headquarters in New York during his official state visit to the United States. Prime Minister is visiting the United States at the invitation of President Joe Biden from June 20-24.

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated worldwide annually on June 21 since 2015, following its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India.

In his 2014 UN address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested the date of June 21, as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares a special significance in many parts of the world.

After the yoga day celebration in New York, PM Modi will then travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue.

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a State Dinner in honour of the Prime Minister the same evening, according to a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

PM Modi will at the invitation of US Congressional Leaders, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Speaker of the Senate Charles Schumer, address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress on June 22.

On June 23, the prime minister will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and State Secretary Antony Bilnken.In addition to official engagements, the Prime Minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora. (with inputs from ANI)

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