This is an archive article published on June 21, 2024

International Yoga Day 2024: From Leh to New York, how people celebrated the ancient practice

A glimpse into the International Yoga Day 2024 celebrations across the globe.

Yoga Day 2024International Yoga Day 2024.
By: Trends Desk
7 min readNew DelhiJun 21, 2024 12:39 PM IST First published on: Jun 21, 2024 at 12:39 PM IST

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”.

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Here’s a sneak peek into the International Yoga Day 2024 celebrations from different parts of India, and the world:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.

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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..”

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.”

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.

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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.

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