International Yoga Day 2025, History, Theme and Significance

The 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) is being celebrated with grandeur across the globe, championing India’s ancient wellness tradition. This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” emphasizes the intrinsic link between individual well-being and planetary health, echoing the Indian ethos of “Sarve Santu Niramaya” (May all be free from disease).

World Yoga Day 2025

International Yoga Day 2025 Key Highlights

• Date: Celebrated on June 21, 2025 (Saturday), marking the 11th International Yoga Day.

• Theme: “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”, emphasizing harmony between individual well-being and the planet’s health.

• PM Modi’s Participation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead a mega yoga session in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with over 5 lakh participants along a 26-km coastal stretch.

• Mass Participation: Yoga events to be held at over 1 lakh locations across India.

• Global Events: Major celebration at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, organized by India’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

• Harit Yoga: Yoga combined with tree plantation and environmental awareness drives.

• Yoga Samavesh: Inclusive yoga sessions for children, elderly, and differently-abled individuals.

• Yoga Connect: Global virtual workshops, conferences, and expert sessions on wellness and sustainability.

• Youth Engagement: Yoga Unplugged activities to attract youth, including games, cultural shows, and competitions.

• Health Focus: Promotion of yoga for mental clarity, physical strength, disease prevention, and emotional balance.

• Vision Alignment: Supports India’s G20 agenda and ancient ethos of “Sarve Santu Niramaya” (May all be healthy).

India Leads the Global Movement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the national celebration from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, where over 3 lakh people joined him in performing the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). This grand event is part of the ‘Yoga Sangam’ initiative, with over 1 lakh locations conducting synchronized yoga sessions and over 2 crore participants nationwide.

Key domestic highlights include:

• Guinness World Record Attempt:
  Over 22,122 tribal students performed Surya Namaskars simultaneously, marking a new world record.

• 25,000 tribal children at Andhra University performed 108 Surya Namaskars in 108 minutes.

• Yoga at Red Fort: A grand event in Delhi, with activities held at 109 different locations across the capital.

• 10 Signature Events launched by the Ministry of Ayush, including:
  Yoga Bandhan, Harit Yoga, Yoga Samavesh, Samyoga, and Yoga Unplugged to engage all communities.

• Gram Panchayats, Anganwadis, and CHCs actively hosted yoga sessions, inspired by a personal letter from PM Modi.

• Ministers & Dignitaries Participate:

  • FM Nirmala Sitharaman in Faridabad

  • CM Yogi Adityanath in UP

  • BJP Chief JP Nadda and others joined local celebrations

• Security Forces Join In:

  • ITBP performed yoga at Pangong Tso

  • Indian Coast Guard held sessions across coasts and ships

International Yoga Day History

The ancient art of yoga has a connection to the history of Yoga Day. It is a type of exercise and a meditative act that promotes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Since 3000 BC, yoga has been practised in India, and it plays an important part in old literature like the Rigveda and the Upanishads.

The earliest types of yoga combine physical activity, spirituality, meditation, and fitness. Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism all refer to it. Yoga was characterized as a way of life in the Patanjali Yoga Sutra of the fourth century BCE. Three varieties of yoga are described in the Mahabharata text:

• Action (karma)
• Dedication (bhakti)
• Knowledge (Jnana)

Together, these three categories bind the body, mind, and soul. Even though yoga has been practised for a very long time in India, the country just recognized International Yoga Day in 2015. The Sanskrit term “yoga” has the literal meaning “to connect” or “to unite.” It represents how the body and consciousness are related.

International Yoga Day was initially proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 27, 2014, during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly. At the time, Asoke Kumar Mukerji, the Indian Ambassador, had sponsored a resolution declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day.

The Summer Solstice, when there is the greatest sunlight throughout the year, falls on June 21, which is why that date was selected. The most nations ever to support a UN resolution, 177 joined together to establish June 21 as International Yoga Day. On June 21, 2015, in New Delhi, nearly 36,000 people participated in the first International Yoga Day, which is now celebrated all over the world. Among them were Prime Minister Modi and numerous other prominent political figures from around the globe.

International Yoga Day 2025 Theme

International Yoga Day Logo 2025

International Yoga Day 2025 Celebration

International Day of Yoga Significance

• Global Awareness: Promotes worldwide understanding of yoga’s benefits for physical, mental, and spiritual health.
• Health Benefits: Enhances flexibility, strength, cardiovascular health, and mental well-being.
• Unity and Peace: Fosters global harmony by bringing together diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Inclusivity: Highlights yoga’s accessibility for all ages, abilities, and fitness levels.
• Cultural Heritage: Honors the ancient Indian tradition and its enduring wisdom.
• Healthy Lifestyle Promotion: Encourages balanced living and holistic well-being.

International Day of Yoga UPSC

International Yoga Day 2025 celebrates a decade of promoting yoga’s global impact. With the theme “Yoga for Self and Society,” this year aims to inspire individuals and communities worldwide to embrace yoga for a healthier, more harmonious life. Join the celebration on June 21st and be part of a global movement towards well-being and unity.

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