The lawns of the United Nations headquarters are being prepared for the International Yoga Day main celebrations for the first time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on his first official visit to the US, will lead the world in celebrating the occasion from the UN headquarters on June 21.
Here are the top points around the ninth International Yoga Day celebrations:
- This year’s theme for International Yoga Day, ‘Yoga For Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, reflects the essence of yoga as a unifying force that fosters the well-being of all, promoting the idea of “One World-One Family.”
- People from more than 180 countries will join PM Modi in celebrating the essence of yoga.
- This will be the first time that the main Yoga Day ceremony is hosted abroad. Till last year, the primary Yoga Day ceremony was being held in India. This ceremony would be led by PM Modi.
- PM Modi will travel to the White House in Washington DC the day after leading the International Yoga Day session. There he will receive a ceremonial welcome on Thursday.
- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said yoga is an ‘ancient practice, whose origins can be traced to India. He said yoga unites the mind and the body as well as people across the globe.
- In India, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar will lead the celebrations in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. VP Dhankhar will participate in the Yoga Protocol performance, along with Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will join Indian Navy personnel to perform yoga onboard the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on International Day of Yoga (June 21). Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, President of Naval Welfare and Wellness Association Kala Hari Kumar and other senior officers of Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence will be present during the event.
