UN declares December 21 as World Meditation Day, India among co-sponsors

NEW DELHI: The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution declaring December 21 as World Meditation Day. Spearheaded by a core group of countries, including India, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mexico and Andorra.

“A day for comprehensive well-being and inner transformation! Glad that India, along with other nations of the core group, guided the unanimous adoption of the resolution on the declaration of December 21 as World Meditation Day,” India’s permanent representative to the UN, ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said in a post on X.


Harish pointed out the significance of the date, coinciding with the Winter Solstice, which marks the beginning of 'Uttarayana' in Indian tradition. “December 21 is an auspicious time of the year, especially for inner reflection and meditation,” he said, adding that the date also falls exactly six months after the International Day of Yoga, celebrated on June 21.

India’s permanent mission to the UN emphasised the universal benefits of meditation, describing it as “an effective tool to achieve inner transformation and peace in the modern day.” The mission stated, “Modern science attests to the numerous benefits of meditation, including significant stress reduction and enhanced cognitive and physical functions.”

Ambassador Harish also drew attention to India’s role in promoting global wellness, recalling the success of the International Day of Yoga, which was declared in 2014. “In a decade, it has become a global movement, leading to common people across the globe practicing yoga and making it part of their daily lives,” he noted.

The resolution was introduced by Liechtenstein and co-sponsored by India, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Burundi, the Dominican Republic, Iceland, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Portugal and Slovenia.

It is aimed to promote meditation as a practice for fostering harmony between mind and body, human and nature, and achieving comprehensive human well being, especially in a time of global conflicts and rising tensions.

India's role in the initiative aligns with its civilizational dictum of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or "the world is one family." “This declaration reflects our commitment to human wellness and global peace,” Harish said.

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