How the world is preparing to celebrate Yoga Day 2019

International Day of Yoga is one of the most sought after observations of the United Nations in terms of voluntary public participation. As the world is gearing up to celebrate 5th International Day of Yoga on June 21, we present a quick recap on preparations for Yoga Day in different countries of the world.

The first International Day of Yoga was observed on June 21, 2015, in 192 of 193 member countries of the UNO. This year, the celebrations for the fifth International Day of Yoga will formally start today at 5 pm at the United Nations in New York with the celebration of ‘Yoga with Guru’. On June 21, the United Nations will also host a panel discussion on Climate Action, which is the theme for International Day of Yoga 2019.     

Yoga is regarded as India's gift to the world for 'Good Health and Well Being' which has been included as Global Goal 3 in the Sustainable Development Goals set up by the United Nations in 2015 for the year 2030. Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India and spread throughout the world. The word 'yoga' has been derived from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. India’s proposal for the International Day of Yoga in the UNGA was cosponsored by an all-time record of 177 nations. Besides, 192 member nations of the UNO, the Yoga is also celebrated in Palestine and Holy See.

1. The fifth annual International Day of Yoga will be celebrated at the United Nations on Thursday, June 20, 2019, with 'Yoga with Gurus' followed by a panel discussion on June 21, informed the United Nations. 

   Essential diplomatic kit @UN for #InternationalDayOfYoga2019 is ready. 🙏🏽#YogaDay2019 #yoga4climateaction pic.twitter.com/XcKXfKhGHg

   — Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) June 19, 2019

   Yoga lights up @UN Headquartersin the lead up to the 5th International Day of Yoga at United Nations #YogaDay2019 #yoga4climateaction #IDY2019 @ICCR_Delhi @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/KynVGIl1C8

   — India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) June 20, 2019

2. Hundreds of yoga enthusiasts participated in yoga classes held in the Tagansky Park in Russia to celebrate the 5th International Day of Yoga. This year, Muscovites could not only take part in various yoga classes but also had the opportunity to get acquainted with the diversity of Indian vegetarian cuisine and listen to Ayurveda lectures. 
3. There has been a significant increase in the popularity of Yoga in the United States after the UN declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, India's Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla said. Addressing hundreds of yoga enthusiasts at the National Monument here on Sunday morning, Shringla said that yoga has been widely adopted by people all over the world, transcending linguistic and cultural boundaries, and has millions of practitioners in the USA. More than 3000 yoga enthusiasts participated in a Yoga event at Washington Monument on Sunday.  
4. Thousands of yoga enthusiasts are all set to roll out their mats across Texas to bend and twist their bodies in complex postures on June 21 and celebrate International Yoga Day. The Consulate General of India in partnership with several groups is organizing several events across Texas during the week to celebrate the 5th International Day of Yoga.

5. A large number of people, including the representatives of Dutch armed forces, gathered in front of the Royal Palace on the prestigious Dam Square in Amsterdam on Sunday to participate in the largest ever yoga celebrations in the Netherlands. The event was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur. Himachal Industries Minister Bikram Singh, India's Ambassador to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony, cricketer Suresh Raina, Dutch actor, model and photographer Micky Hoogendijk, among others, took part in the opening ceremony.

6. It’s for the first time the Yoga Day will be celebrated at the base camp of Mount Everest. A Yoga practice session for the event was organized on Sunday by Indian Embassy in Kathmandu at Thyangboche - the gateway to Mount Everest. A large number of people, including Ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, locals, members of various women and youth organisations, officers of the Sagarmatha National Park and foreign tourists, participated in the event.
7. More than 200 yoga sessions have been planned in Singapore during the 10-day International Day of Yoga celebration one of which would be led by the country's Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran. The Yoga sessions will be organised in 130 centres during the celebration between June 15 and 25. 
8. The Dutch Army members are set to participate in the Netherlands' largest-ever celebration of International Yoga Day at the Dam Square on June 16. The celebrations are being organized by the Embassy of India in the Netherlands in association with yoga enthusiasts of the country.
9. In Auckland, this event will be hosted by local group Meditation New Zealand with an afternoon of dynamic and restorative yoga at the Mount Albert War Memorial Hall. This year the classes will be led by leading kiwi yoga instructor Nikki Ralston, who owns two yoga studios (Urban Ashram) in Auckland, and Samantha Doyle, a leading Australian yoga instructor who is also an ayurvedic expert.
10. In Saudi Arab, the main event of Yoga Day will be organised at Zabeel Park in Dubai on Friday, people are also invited to the mass yoga sessions in Ajman, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. Last year, nearly 4,000 people had participated in the Yoga Day events at Zabeel Park. As June 21 is falling on a weekend, the authorities are expecting more public participation. 

    In the run up to the upcoming #IDY2019 celebration, the yoga enthusiast performed Yoga at the iconic @LouvreAbuDhabi .Be a part of the biggest yoga event in Abu Dhabi @ummalemaratpark on 20 th June 2019 at 7PM.#ZindagiRaheKhush @navdeepsuri @moayush @IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/FPYg611aVd

    — India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) June 16, 2019

11. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the people throughout the globe to practice Yoga and join the Yoga Day programmes. 

    Across all continents, the #YogaDay2019 celebrations have begun with immense fervour. I urge you all to join the Yoga Day programmes in your respective nations and enrich the Yoga programmes with your participation. pic.twitter.com/bmA5ublVYE

    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 16, 2019

12. In India, the main event is being organised in Ranchi but Delhi's big parks will also be filled with Yoga enthusiasts. The official preparations are going on in 8 grounds including Rajpath and Lalkila have also been inspected. The AYUSH Ministry estimates that 8 to 10 lakh people will do yoga in Delhi.