International Yoga Day: Modi to grace UP this year
What's the story
The stage is all set for the 3rd edition of International Yoga Day and PM Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath will be performing Yoga in Lucknow. 51,000 participants comprising of Yoga enthusiasts, several politicians, and bureaucrats will be present at Lucknow's Ramabhai Ambedkar Sabha Sthal. Globally, Indian missions in the US, Netherlands, Trinidad, and Tobago will organize Yoga programs.
2014
Modi proposes Yoga, the world embraces it
In September 2014, PM Modi proposed the idea to observe June 21 as Yoga Day during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly. In December 2014, India's Permanent Representative Asoke Mukerji presented the the proposal's draft in UNGA. Of the total 193 UNGA members, the proposal was ratified by a consensus of 177 co-sponsoring countries and 21 June was selected as Yoga Day.
Why 21 June?
21 June becomes Yoga Day, not without a reason
Modi said 21 June was chosen as summer solstice falls then and it has significance for yoga. It is known to indicate a shift to Dakshinaya. This transition is thought to be supportive to yoga enthusiasts as "Dakshinayana is considered a period of natural support to spiritual practices". Besides this is when Shiva started giving the knowledge of yoga to the rest of humanity.
21 Jun 2015
The world celebrates International Yoga Day
The world celebrated the first International Yoga Day on 21 June, 2015. In India, grand celebrations took place at Rajpath. Narendra Modi and 84 other national dignitaries performed 21 yoga asanas alongwith other people. During his speech at the celebrations Modi said that Yoga could "transform human consciousness through control of body and senses through constant practice."
Data
India's Yoga Day celebrations set 2 Guinness world records
India's International Yoga Day celebrations set two Guinness world records. It became "the world's largest yoga class as it featured 35,985 people and the second one was for having maximum number of participating nationalities, that is, 84."
21 Jun 2017
Celebrations around the world
Not just India, but people around the world are celebrating Yoga Day today. In UK, mega yoga events are being held at the London Eye and Trafalgar Square. Thousands of people are expected to participate in Yoga events, all across China making it the 2nd biggest celebrations of the day after India. Even the UN headquarters were lit up with 'Yoga' today.