Tomorrow i.e., 21 June 2019 is the fifth International Yoga Day. It has been celebrated annually, ever since its inception in 2015. People across the world participate by performing Yoga and partaking in the festivities of the day with enthusiasm.
It is believed that Yoga, as a practice, is about 5000 years old. It was developed as a way to achieve harmony and maintain balance between the heart and soul.
Many believe that Yoga also helps in achieving ‘divine enlightenment’.
International Yoga Day: When Is It Celebrated?
International Yoga Day is celebrated annually on 21 June. The date was announced by the United Nations General Assembly on 11 December 2014.
The declaration came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed the UN Assembly in September 2014, on the importance of Yoga.
International Yoga Day: Why It Is Celebrated?
Indian Ambassador to the UN, Asoke Mukerji, had introduced the resolution on ‘International Day of Yoga’, which saw 177 nations joining as co-sponsors.
This was the highest number ever for any General Assembly resolution.
It was adopted under the agenda of ‘Global Health and Foreign Policy’ with the hope that it would be beneficial for the health of the world population.
International Yoga Day: Why 21 June?
As per Indian mythology, Lord Shiva is known as the first yogi or adiyogi.
It is believed that on hearing about the adiyogi, many people went to him for enlightenment but after he stayed unaware of their presence, most of them left.
However, seven of them sat determined through 84 years of sadhana and insisted on learning from him. It is believed that Shiva finally took notice of them on a day when the sun was shifting from a northern to southern run, that is, the Summer Solstice.
As the Summer Solstice takes place on 21 June, when one of Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun, it is celebrated as International Yoga Day.
International Yoga Day: Themes
Each year, a theme is picked for International Yoga Day. This year’s theme is Climate Action.
It will be celebrated at the United Nations on 20 June with a "Yoga with Gurus" event, and it will be followed by a panel discussion on 21 June.
Previous years’ themes were-
Yoga for Harmony and Peace- 2015
Connect the Youth- 2016
Yoga for Health- 2017
Yoga for Peace- 2018
So, take a pledge this Yoga Day to include the practice as a part of your daily routine. It will help you in leading a healthy lifestyle.
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