The 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) is being celebrated today, June 21, 2025, with widespread enthusiasm across India and the globe. This year's theme, "Yoga for One Earth, One Health," underscores the profound connection between individual well-being and the health of our planet, resonating with the ancient Indian ethos of "Sarve Santu Niramaya" – May all be free from disease.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the national celebrations from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, where he is participating in a mass yoga event with over 3 lakh people. The event, known as 'Yoga Sangam', aims to create a synchronized yoga demonstration based on the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) across more than 1 lakh locations throughout India. These sessions are scheduled to take place between 6:30 AM and 7:45 AM.
The initiative reflects India's vision of aligning personal wellness with planetary health, deeply rooted in the principles of "Sarve Santu Niramaya" and "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" – the world is one family. The choice of June 21st as the International Day of Yoga holds significance as it coincides with the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, symbolizing harmony between humanity and nature.
The concept of International Yoga Day was initially proposed by Prime Minister Modi during his address at the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2014. The UN officially adopted the resolution on December 11 of the same year, with a record 175 member states co-sponsoring it. Modi described yoga as "an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition," emphasizing its holistic approach to health, self-awareness, and harmony with nature. Yoga has origins in ancient India, dating back over 5,000 years, as a spiritual and physical discipline intended to harmonize the mind, body, and spirit.
In addition to the main event led by Prime Minister Modi, various targeted events such as Yoga Bandhan, Harit Yoga, Yoga Samavesh, and Yoga Unplugged are being organized to amplify the message of yoga. Indian missions and cultural centers worldwide are also commemorating the day with yoga demonstrations. The UN Headquarters in New York is hosting a special event organized by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN.
The PM Yoga Awards will recognize individuals and organizations that have excelled in promoting and practicing yoga. Two national and two international awards will be presented, with each winner receiving ₹25 lakh, a trophy, and a certificate.
While International Yoga Day is not an official public holiday, many institutions, schools, and organizations are hosting yoga events and awareness programs. For example, in Bihar, schools have been instructed to open early to mark 'Yoga Sangam'. The Delhi Metro also began its services earlier than usual to facilitate the movement of yoga participants.
With over a decade of consistent growth and enthusiastic participation, IDY 2025 marks a milestone in India's global leadership in wellness, celebrating yoga not just as a practice but as a movement for holistic health, unity, and sustainability.
