After two years when celebrations of Yoga Day were aligned with the Covid-19 pandemic protocols, widespread enthusiasm and participation was observed across the country for this year’s 8th edition of the International Day of Yoga 2022 to support the message of “Yoga for Humanity”. This year International Day of Yoga on 21st June has witnessed many firsts, including a “Guardian Ring” programme which entails live streaming of people performing yoga in 16 different time zones along with the rise of the sun. As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Yoga demonstration by Union Cabinet Ministers is taking place at 75 Iconic sites across India, including the Statue of Unity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated along with thousands of participants in a Mass Yoga Demonstration at Mysore Palace ground, Mysuru. Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said the yogic energy, which has been nurtured for centuries by the spiritual centres of India like Mysuru, is today giving direction to global health. Today yoga is becoming a basis for global cooperation and is providing a belief of a healthy life to mankind, he added. He said that today we see that Yoga has come out of the households and has spread all over the world and this is a picture of spiritual realisation, and that of natural and shared human consciousness, especially in the last two years of an unprecedented pandemic. “Yoga has now become a global festival. Yoga is not only for any individual, but for the entire humanity. Therefore, this time the theme of International Day of Yoga is – Yoga for humanity”, he said. He thanked the United Nation and all the countries for taking this theme globally.
Quoting Indian sages the Prime Minister emphasised “Yoga brings peace for us. The peace from yoga is not merely for individuals. Yoga brings peace to our society. Yoga brings peace to our nations and the world. Yoga brings peace to our universe.”, he continued “This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us. And, Yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness”
The Prime Minister remarked that India is celebrating Yoga Day at a time when the country is celebrating its 75th year of independence, the Amrit Mahotsav. This widespread acceptance of Yoga Day, The Prime Minister said, is the acceptance of that Amrit spirit of India which gave energy to India’s freedom struggle. That is why Mass Yoga demonstrations are being organised at 75 iconic locations across the country which have been witness to the glorious history of India and have been the centre of cultural energy.
He also informed about the novel programme ‘Guardian Yoga Ring’ which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga’s unifying power that surpasses national boundaries. As the sun apparently moves from the east to the west across the world, the Mass Yoga Demonstrations in the participating countries, if seen from any one point on Earth, will seem to be happening one after the other, almost in tandem, thus underlining the concept of ‘One Sun, One earth’. “These practices of yoga are giving wonderful inspiration for health, balance and cooperation”, he added.
Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman joined the 8th International Day of Yoga, 21 June 2022 celebrations with the yoga practitioners of Morarji Desai Yoga Institute at iconic Jantar Mantar. Highlighting the benefits of doing Yoga in everyday life, the Union Finance Minister noted, “The reason why we have accumulated here today is to share the idea of goodness from India with the world.” “Yoga is a very evolved, mind and body unifying exercise. It is one of the biggest assets of India. Over the Millennia, it has been practised by those who were aware of its virtues and has remained intact. There has been no corrosion to its inherent teachings. The way it has been practised also stays intact,” the Finance Minister stated.
The Finance Minister underlined that yoga is not just an exercise, but it also unites the mind and body to be in synchrony. This is a big asset of India which is appreciated globally today. But not just for physical fitness but also for alertness of mind, a well integrated nervous system and circulation. The medicinal virtues of yoga are very well documented.
Since 2015, the International Day of Yoga (IDY) has been celebrated worldwide on 21st June every year. The theme for this year’s Yoga day is “Yoga for Humanity”. The theme portrays how Yoga served humanity in alleviating suffering during Covid Pandemic.