On December 11, 2014, the United Nations announced June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, and since, every year, the ancient practice is celebrated worldwide on this day.
Every year, millions around the world––from serene mountain retreats to bustling city squares––join the celebrations through special classes, workshops, and talks, aiming to raise awareness about the many benefits of practicing yoga. The theme for this year, which marks the 10th anniversary of the International Yoga Day, is “Yoga for self and society”.
Here’s a sneak peek into the International Yoga Day 2024 celebrations from different parts of India, and the world:
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads celebrations in Srinagar
PM Modi performed yoga at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, celebrating the International Yoga Day. “As we mark the 10th International Day of Yoga, I urge everyone to make it a part of their daily lives. Yoga fosters strength, good health and wellness. Wonderful to join this year’s programme in Srinagar,” he posted on X.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a Yoga session at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on J&K, on International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/PClCj4aUHN
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024
He extended congratulations to everyone in the country and around the world practicing Yoga, highlighting how the global interest in the practice has grown in the past decade. Addressing the gathering in Srinagar, Modi mentioned that India’s proposal for International Yoga Day at the United Nations received support from 177 nations. He was also seen taking selfies with the people at Dal Lake after an energetic yoga session.
Post Yoga selfies in Srinagar! Unparalled vibrancy here, at the Dal Lake. pic.twitter.com/G9yxoLUkpX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2024
Indian Army celebrates
The Indian Army personnel celebrated the International Yoga Day 2024 at various places including Leh, eastern Ladakh and the Muguthang Sub Sector in North Sikkim, at an altitude of more than 15,000 feet.
#WATCH | ITBP personnel perform Yoga at Muguthang Sub Sector in North Sikkim at an altitude of more than 15,000 feet, on the 10th International Yoga Day.#InternationalYogaDay2024
(Source: ITBP) pic.twitter.com/oBY9Xuznb8
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024
#WATCH | Indian Army personnel perform Yoga in icy heights on the northern frontier on #InternationalYogaDay2024
(Source: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/7zjIBfJ0Ye
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024
According to a report by ANI, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been promoting yoga in many areas such as the Himalayan ranges of the Indo-China border, which includes Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.
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The Border Security Force also shared photos of BSF jawans performing yoga at zero line at Joint Check Post, Attari in Amritsar.
𝐘𝐨𝐠𝐚 𝐚𝐭 𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
Mesmerizing visuals of Border Security Force personnel performing Yoga at zero line at JCP Attari, Amritsar under the supervision of Brig Pawan Bajaj(Retd), DIG BSF #amritsar
A truly awe-inspiring spectacle!#YogaForSelfAndSociety… pic.twitter.com/PLO2S0pBi8— BSF PUNJAB FRONTIER (@BSF_Punjab) June 21, 2024
Indian Navy celebrates Yoga Day
Indian Navy personnel celebrated the day aboard warships such as INS Vikramaditya, INS Tarkash, INS Teg, and more. The video was shared by the Press Trust of India (PTI) on X.
VIDEO | International Yoga Day 2024: Indian Navy personnel performed various Yoga asanas, including the Surya Namaskar, on board the warships INS Tarkash, INS Teg among others.#InternationalYogaDay2024 #YogaDay
(Source: Indian Navy) @indiannavy pic.twitter.com/yP69W8gKiD
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 21, 2024
#WATCH | Yoga onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya #InternationalYogaDay pic.twitter.com/ROBw82yvph
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024
President Droupadi Murmu
President Droupadi Murmu joined the celebration performing yoga at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. She shared photos on X along with a post, saying, “Greetings to the entire global community, especially the fellow citizens of India on International Yoga Day! Yoga is India’s unique gift to humanity. In view of rising lifestyle related problems, Yoga has become far more important today. Yoga is a way to physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Let us resolve to adopt yoga as an integral part of our day-to-day living.”
Greetings to the entire global community, especially the fellow citizens of India on International Yoga Day! Yoga is India’s unique gift to humanity. In view of rising lifestyle related problems, Yoga has become far more important today. Yoga is a way to physical, mental and… pic.twitter.com/4XQAco*kOFg
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 21, 2024
Sand art by Sudarsan Pattnaik in Puri, Odisha
Sudarsan Pattnaik, Odisha-based famous sand artist, created a sand mural – a human figure in a meditative pose, with hands folded over the head, and ‘Yoga Day’ written below. He also illustrated the twelve steps in “Surya namaskar” below it.
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Pattnaik shared the video with a caption saying, “#YogaForSelfAndSociety On the occasion of 10th. #InternationalDayofYoga2024 , presenting my Sand Art at Puri beach in Odisha. #SuryaNamaskar #YogaDay . #IDY2024.”
#YogaForSelfAndSociety
On the occasion of 10th. #InternationalDayofYoga2024 , presenting my Sand Art at Puri beach in Odisha. #SuryaNamaskar #YogaDay .
#IDY2024 pic.twitter.com/0d2Q0FeZJG— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 21, 2024
UP Governor Anandiben Patel and CM Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led the International Day of Yoga celebrations in the state on Friday. They performed various asanas with hundreds of people on the lawns of the Governor’s House.
योग एक संपूर्ण विधा है, जो हमें शारीरिक और मानसिक रूप से एकजुट करता है।
10वें अंतरराष्ट्रीय योग दिवस के अवसर पर आज मा. राज्यपाल श्रीमती @anandibenpatel जी के साथ राजभवन प्रांगण, लखनऊ में आयोजित सामूहिक योगाभ्यास कार्यक्रम में सम्मिलित हुआ।
प्रदेश वासियों से अपील है कि योग को… pic.twitter.com/CEOFQhtQFJ
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) June 21, 2024
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Uttarakhand CM shares post
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami joined residents and tourists for a yoga session at Parvati Sarovar, Adi Kailash, Pithoragarh, situated at an altitude of 4,497 meters. He shared the video on X with the caption in Hindi which translates to, “Adi Yogi A pleasant experience of ‘Yoga’ at Adi Kailash, the holy land of Lord Shiva..”
आदि योगी भगवान शिव की पवित्र भूमि आदि कैलाश पर ‘योग’ का सुखद अनुभव..#InternationalYogaDay pic.twitter.com/aZgbj1cUw4
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) June 21, 2024
New York celebrates in Times Square
The official X account of the Consulate General of India in New York made a post sharing photos of the International Yoga Day 2024 celebrations at Times Square. The post also said, “The day-long celebration of Solstice at @TimesSquareNYC featured seven yoga sessions, in which about 10,000 people from across nationalities participated, showcasing the widespread enthusiasm for yoga in the city.”
@IndiainNewYork celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga at the iconic @TimesSquareNYC!
The day-long celebration of Solstice at @TimesSquareNYC featured seven yoga sessions, in which about 10,000 people from across nationalities participated, showcasing the widespread… pic.twitter.com/psro1SKho2
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) June 20, 2024
School students perform Pangong Tso
A video shared by ANI showed a bunch of school students, in their tracksuits, performing yoga against the backdrop of the Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh.
#WATCH | On #InternationalYogaDay, school children perform Yoga alongside Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh.
(Source: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/SLEfie4yv8
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2024
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Since 2015, the Prime Minister has spearheaded International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at several iconic locations, such as Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru, and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
