India’s Global Wellness Movement
India and Yoga share a bond that spans millennia. Rooted in India’s ancient traditions, Yoga has evolved from a spiritual and philosophical practice into a global movement for physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Recognising its universal appeal and benefits, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014. The proposal, introduced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the 69th session of the UN, was supported by 175 member states. The first observance was held on 21st June 2015.Yoga was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.
This landmark recognition acknowledged India’s contribution to global wellness. It also carried yoga’s journey to a new stage, transforming it into a worldwide celebration across continents. Since then, the observance of International Day of Yoga has strengthened yoga’s role as a bridge between nations, promoting health, harmony, and sustainable lifestyles.
While International Day of Yoga is celebrated across India through thousands of events, each edition is anchored by a principal national celebration hosted in a different city. The journey began at Rajpath, New Delhi, in 2015 and has since travelled through cities such as Chandigarh, Lucknow, Dehradun, Ranchi, Mysuru, Jabalpur, Srinagar, and Visakhapatnam.
