Thousands mark Yoga Day around the world
in Paris, France, on Sunday. (PTI)
BEIJING/NEW YORK, June 21: The International Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated worldwide on Sunday, June 21, bringing together thousands of participants across cities from Tokyo and New York to Moscow, London, Berlin, Singapore, and beyond. Observed annually since its adoption by the United Nations in 2014, this year’s theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” highlighted yoga’s role in promoting physical fitness, mental resilience, and overall well-being across all age groups.
In Japan, over 2,100 participants gathered at Tokyo’s Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple, while New York’s Times Square hosted a diverse crowd practicing yoga. Major events were also held in Moscow’s Lomonosov Moscow State University grounds, Shanghai’s Bund Finance Centre, London’s Holland Park, Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, and Canberra’s Old Parliament House. Large gatherings also took place in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Milan, Ankara, Barcelona, and Pokhara, among others.
Day of Yoga celebrations, at Times Square
in New York City on Sunday. (PTI)
Indian embassies and cultural centres, often in collaboration with local organizations, led mass yoga sessions, attracting diplomats, government officials, community members, and yoga enthusiasts. Participation ranged from a few hundred to over a thousand in several locations, with strong engagement from the Indian diaspora and local citizens.
Despite varying weather conditions, including rain in Tokyo, thunderstorms in Germany, and heat in London, enthusiasm remained high. Organisers emphasized yoga’s benefits for health, mindfulness, and harmony.
Events also included schoolchildren, highlighting efforts to encourage younger generations to adopt yoga as a lifestyle practice. Overall, the global celebrations reinforced yoga’s growing international popularity as a holistic practice for health and well-being. (AP)
