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Why International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21, 2023

International Yoga Day is celebrated annually on June 21st to spr... Read More
International Yoga Day 2023: International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 every year with a motive of spreading awareness about the Vedic practice, yoga and meditation. In the year 2023, it will be the 9th year of International Yoga day and the day will be celebrated across the world. This year, PM Narendra Modi will lead a yoga session from UN headquarters today, on June 21, 2023.

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International Yoga Day 2023: Theme

The theme "Yoga For Vasudaiva Kutumbakam" is selected for the year 2023. The theme describes the desire for One Earth, One Family and One Future.
International Yoga Day 2023: Significance

International Yoga Day has a great significance among people. This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the benefits of yoga. Yoga has various physical and mental benefits. This is an old practice which originated in India. This yoga practice includes many physical exercises such as breathing, postures, and mental exercises such as meditation or dhyan yog. It brings balance in life and one can grow spiritually and rejuvenates the body as new. Yoga helps in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, fear and many other health ailments.

Being a human, our primarily goal is to keep our body and mind healthy and fit. The people who are mentally and physically healthy, are very strong psychologically and they have a strong will power also. They stay positive and spread positivity around. It also gives clarity in life.

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International Yoga Day 2023: History

Prime Minister Narendra Modi came forward with a concept of Yoga day during his speech at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014. After listening the concept, all 193 members states of the United National agreed to observe this day as International Yoga Day on December 11, 2014. It was first observed on June 21, 2015. From then, International Yoga Day has become a global phenomenon, and it is now celebrated in over 190 countries.

International Yoga Day 2023: Patanjali Yoga Sutras

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Yoga comes from an ancient land with culture in depth about the working of the human body and universe. The word yoga is a Sanskrit word that can be translated in English as union, which means the union of the human with the divine. This is also the purpose of life.

Patanjali, a great sage, compiled knowledge about yoga from various sources into a concise text called the Yoga Sutras. These sutras have been widely translated into many languages and circulated across the world.According to the Yoga Sutras, there are eight components or Ashtangas (eight limbs) of yoga. Being a human, it is important to understand these eight Angas :-

1. Yama
2. Niyam
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3. Asana
4. Pranayam
5. Pratyahara
6. Dharana
7. Dhyana
8. Samadhi
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International Yoga Day 2023: Importance of Yoga

From Yoga science, we understand that the body and mind are the instruments and to protect that we need to take care of our vehicles but we need to understand the fact that we are the master of our vehicles. Similarly, the mind is our instrument only, through which we we feel our character and personality. We must know that we should not become the victim of it. Yoga taught us those techniques through which we can move the prana and cleanse the aura and open the block chakras. Asanas which are performed properly, helps to get rid of the diseases and make the breathing proper, people can increase the concentration power. It happens only when Prana (life force) shakti is increased.

International Yoga Day: FAQs
  1. Who is the father of Yoga?Maharishi Patanjali, a great sage was the father of Yoga. He explained about the yoga sutras.
  2. Why yoga is important ?Yoga is very important as we all are aware with the fact that now a days stress, anxiety and depression problems have become so common and also to keep the body healthy, one needs to follow the path of Yoga.
  3. When is International Yoga celebrated?International Yoga Day is going to be observed on June 21, 2023.
Top Comment
Alka Bhatia
545 days ago
Suggestions:1.Central and State govts may allocate some budget to promote yoga.2.Each govt school in village be sanctioned budget to appoint one yoga teacher.3. Certificate and degree courses thro on-line and regular physical presence basis in Yoga be introduced.4.Sarpanch in villages be persuaded to get training and exposure to yoga 5. Sarpanch / Tehsildar in villages be encouraged to promote yoga and if reqd some incentive be offered to them.6. Yoga camps be organised by govt/ village sarpanch from time to time in villages. Some budget for this be given to Sarpanch.7.Charts showing yoga postures with key benefits, be distributed free of charge in villages preferably in local languages. 8.Yoga may be introduced in syllabus of class 5-12 in schools.9.Interschool or inter villages competitions on yoga may be conducted.10.MLAs/ MPs/ Parshads of Municipalities be persuaded to promote and encourage yoga in their respective constituencies including villages.11. Yoga teachers on call basis be arranged in villages. Sarpanch may pay these yoga teachers from the funds allocated.12.TV channels be persuaded to telecast atleast 30 minutes program on yoga once a week. India TV has been giving this service thro the programs on Yoga by Ram Dev ji for last few years. Other TV channels may follow India TV.13. New papers also be persuaded to publish one article on yoga once a week.14.Films Producers be told to produce films covering full or few scenes of Yoga.Such films may be made tax free to the extent possible.15.Appeal be made to Film stars to sign more and more ads on yoga.16.Suggestions from people be invited on regular basis on how to promote yoga.17. The centres/ institutions/ shops imparting training on yoga be encouraged and good incentives be offered to them.
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