From Australia to Austria, and from Bhutan to Britain the Seventh International Day of Yoga was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the world on Monday.
Taking to Twitter, Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi shared a series of pictures, wherein people across the world can be seen performing different yoga postures.
“From Japan to Niger to Spain to the US! Indian Missions across the globe celebrate the 7th #InternationalDayOfYoga #YogaForWellness,” he said in a tweet.
Replying to him, PM Modi said, “Indians Missions across the world have marked #YogaDay with great enthusiasm. The Yoga sessions world over drew several people.”
Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica Kamina J Smith performed Yoga For Wellness and spreads awareness about the International Day of Yoga.
Meanwhile, India in Mauritius tweeted: “Yoga is of critical significance as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic”: Hon. Alan Ganoo, Foreign Minister of Mauritius speaks about the importance of #Yoga on the occasion of #IDY2021.”
Since 2014, International Yoga Day has been observed in mass gatherings in different parts of the country. This year, the theme of the occasion is ‘Yoga For Wellness’ and will focus on practising Yoga for physical and mental well-being.
The observation of International Yoga Day is a global activity and the preparatory activities normally start 3-4 months prior to June 21. Millions of people are introduced to Yoga in the spirit of a mass movement as part of IDY observation every year.
In Australia, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and even smaller towns like Ballarat and New Castle saw multiple programs organised on the occasion.
India In Australia tweeted, “Celebrated the 7th International Day of Yoga Today. Some glimpses of the celebration.”
India the birthplace of ‘Yoga-Darshan’ celebrated the seventh International Day of Yoga, with President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, several Indian Union Ministers and citizens across the country performed Yoga on the occasion.
However, the nation witnessed muted celebrations, and events were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
India’s President Ram Nath Kovind performed yoga at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Taking on Twitter, the President termed Yoga as ‘India’s great gifts to the world’.
“International Day Of Yoga greetings! Our ancient seers’ vision of bringing mind-body together to achieve holistic health and happiness has benefited millions over millennia. One of India’s great gifts to the world, it can be especially helpful during Covid-19,” President Kovind tweeted with the has tag ‘BeWithYogaBeAtHome’.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu performs Yoga at his official residence in Delhi with his wife Usha to mark the occasion.
“This year’s theme ‘Yoga for well-being’ reflects the need to practice Yoga regularly for our holistic wellness as yoga improves both our physical and mental health,” tweeted the Vice President.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation on the occasion, announced the launch of the M-Yoga app for yoga training videos that will be available worldwide in different languages and said that the application will play a ‘great role’ in expanding yoga across the globe.
Indian Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan performed Yoga at Maharaja Agrasen Park in Delhi.
“Relevance of Yoga has increased during the COVID-19. Yoga has helped us to maintain our physical and mental health. We should make Yoga or other physical activities a part of our daily life. These will help us to increase our immunity against coronavirus,” Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
The US Department of State on Monday said that the ancient discipline connects people around the world, including over 37 people from the United States.
Taking to Twitter, the US State Department: “Happy #InternationalDayOfYoga! The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or unite. This ancient discipline from India connects people around the world, including over 37 million people in the United States who practise yoga.”
Earlier, the Indian Embassy in the United States on Sunday celebrated the IDY 2021 at the India House, with the theme “Yoga for Wellness”.
According to a press release, Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu welcomed the participants and stressed yoga’s potential to provide both health and happiness by improving the physical and mental well-being of people, especially given the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
On the occasion, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Volkan Bozkir said that yoga was a lifeline during the COVID-19 lockdown as it helps to maintain physical wellbeing and manage the stress of uncertainty and isolation.
“The COVID 19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated the consequences of poor global health, the social and economic consequences have been devastating for many around the world. Yoga was a lifeline during lockdown,” Bozkir said in a statement on Monday.
Here’s how Bollywood celebs celebrated International Yoga Day 2021
From Amitabh Bachchan to Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shilpa Shetty, several Bollywood celebrities have taken to their social media accounts to send out their best wishes to everyone on the occasion of International Yoga Day on Monday.
Amitabh Bachchan posted a throwback picture of him practising. Along with it, he described yoga as the best friend of the body.
Kareena Kapoor Khan is quite excited to resume yoga after giving birth to her second son a few months ago.
“For me, my yoga journey began in 2006 when I signed ‘Tashan’ and ‘Jab We Met’… an incredible one… which kept me fit and strong. Now after two babies and four months postpartum… this time I was just exhausted and in too much pain to get back but today I’m slowly and steadily getting back at it. My yoga time is my me time… and of course, consistency is key… so, keep at it people,” Kareena wrote on Instagram.
Actor Shilpa Shetty, who has been doing yoga for years now, listed the benefits of Bhramari Pranayama.
“Happy World Yoga Day . BREATHE… it’s the most important function that the body performs. Breathing right helps provide oxygen to the organs to perform all the crucial processes, from cognition to digestion to strengthening the immune system,” she wrote.
“So, on World Yoga Day, let’s start by practising the Bhramari Pranayama. It helps generate up to 15% more nitric oxide through the vibrations of the humming sound, ‘Aum). This, in turn, helps early recovery and healing from Covid-19. Spare a few minutes to focus on your breathing today with the Bhramari Pranayama. It relaxes the mind and lowers stress while improving concentration and alleviating anxiety,” she added.
Malaika Arora explained the role of yoga in her life.
“Namaste everybody! For me, it’s yoga day every day because yoga is a way of life as it has taught me so much more than I can pen down here. However, let me take this opportunity and wish all of you’ll a happy International Day Of Yoga,” she wrote.
Neetu Kapoor celebrated Yoga Day with her daughter Riddhima and granddaughter Samara.
She took to Instagram to post pictures of the three generations doing yoga together at her home in Mumbai.
“If there is one thing we have learnt in this pandemic, it’s the importance of physical and mental well being. And working towards health goals has never been so relevant,” she wrote.
“Hence, it is no surprise, the theme of this year’s, International Yoga Day 2021, is ‘Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family’. To celebrate Yoga’s holistic approach and to promote physical and mental health, but within constraints of social distancing, we practised yoga, as a family – Three generations together today! We wish you a happy world yoga day,” she added in the caption.
Alia Bhatt got the company of her cat while she was doing yoga today. Taking to Instagram, Alia posted a video of her performing different yoga asanas.
“Happy happy yoga day,” she wrote alongside the clip.
Actor Sara Ali Khan also loves doing yoga. She described yoga as “the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.”
International Yoga Day is observed annually on June 21. The idea of the day was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 in the United Nations General Assembly Meeting.