International Day of Yoga - UPSC Notes

Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline that originated in India. It is now performed in various forms all around the world and is growing in popularity. International Yoga Day (or Yoga Day) is observed every year on the 21st of June. UNESCO declared Yoga as an intangible cultural heritage from India. In this article, you can read all about International Yoga Day in India. Such events and programmes play an important role in the IAS exam.

Aspirants can find information on the structure and other important details related to the IAS Exam, in the linked article.

Latest Update:

• On June 21, 2022, in India and throughout the world 8th International Day of Yoga was celebrated. 
• The 8th International Day of Yoga was celebrated with the theme “Yoga for Humanity”, decided by the Ministry of Ayush.

Such topics are significant for the Art and Culture section of General Studies paper- 1 in the UPSC Syllabus. The Arts and Culture section can be a scoring subject. Students preparing for UPSC 2021 and other Government Exams can find this article useful.

Also, refer to the links below for exam preparation:

International Yoga Day

International Yoga Day was declared by the UN General Assembly on 11th December 2014. Yoga is a mental, physical and spiritual discipline or practice that has its origins in India. 

• The day of 21st June was suggested by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the UN because it is the longest day of the year. 
• The day also has special relevance in several different parts of the globe. The draft resolution was introduced in the General Assembly by India’s Permanent Representative.
• The draft received support from 177 members and they adopted the text without a vote.
• Many international leaders supported this initiative. 
• The resolution was co-sponsored by 175 countries, which is the highest number of co-sponsors for a UN General Assembly resolution of such a type.
• Indian diplomatic missions, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Prime Minister of India himself have ramped up their social media diplomacy on yoga. Yoga is seen as one of the best examples of soft power.

Also, read UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages in India.

Yoga

The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of the body and the consciousness.

• It cultivates different ways of maintaining a stable attitude in everyday life and enhances skills for different activities.
• It is said that it is a union of body and mind. 
• Its origins can be traced back to almost 5000 years.
• A number of seals and fossil remains of the Indus Saraswati Valley civilization having Yogic motives and figures performing Yoga Sadhana suggest the presence of Yoga in ancient India.
• While Yoga finds a mention in the Rig-Veda, it became more prominent as hatha yoga texts emerged around the 11th century.
• Yoga includes Asanas, Mudras, Kriyas, Shaktakarmas and Meditation.

Know the background, origin and history of Yoga as a cultural export of India at the linked article.

International Yoga Day 2022

Yoga is a powerful tool to deal with the stress of uncertainty and isolation, as well as to maintain physical well-being. The World Health Organisation (WHO) mentions yoga as a means to improve health in its Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: more active people for a healthier world.

On June 21, 2022, the globe observed International Day of Yoga 2022 to raise awareness about the health and well-being advantages of yoga. This is the 8th edition of International Yoga Day which is being celebrated under the theme “Yoga for Humanity“.  Last year the International Day of Yoga was celebrated under the theme, which was held amid the COVID-19 epidemic, was “Yoga for Wellness.”

Significance of the Theme 2022:

• This year’s theme offers a holistic approach to health while acknowledging that the previous several years have brought substantial mental, emotional, and mental suffering to people all over the world.
• Yoga is a collection of physical, mental and spiritual disciplines that have become popular as a way of life in the modern era.

Key Highlights of International Yoga Day 2022:

• The Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, is promoting the 8th edition of International Day of Yoga (IDY2022) through a variety of programmes.
• On June 21, 2022, to commemorate Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav, it will demonstrate Yoga in 75 Heritage Heritage/Iconic cultural locations for the first time.
• A flagship programme has also been organised in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs for a global Yoga Protocol on the day after the movement of the sun, called “Guardian Ring.”
  • It will exhibit the movement of the sun, as well as the involvement of people practising Yoga from several countries, beginning in the east and advancing westward.

Get detailed NCERT notes in Indian Art and Culture at the linked article and prepare for the upcoming examination.

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