The United Nations has approved the proposal of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi to launch a special day for yoga practitioners across the world. The initiative which found support from many global leaders has finally found a date marked in the UN calendar of annual events, with June 21 being chosen as the ‘International Yoga Day’.
More than 170 countries including USA, Canada, China, UAE and KSA have supported this event including 175 nations that co-sponsored this resolution, making it the highest number of co-sponsors ever for any UNGA resolution of such nature. On December 11, 2014, the 193-member UN General Assembly approved by consensus; a resolution establishing June 21st as ‘International Day of Yoga’ – a proud moment for Indians.
To mobilize this initiative in UAE, the Consulate General of India, Dubai has taken a lead in hosting the International Yoga Day celebration on June 21, for which a crowd of more than 15,000 participants are expected from a wide spectrum of the residents of UAE. With many international communities who are enthusiastic practitioners and followers of yoga, this initiative is expected to witness a fantastic support across nationalities.
These will also include participants from Indian schools, local universities, members of the diplomatic community, Dubai Government Authorities, as well as the large Indian community living in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
For a lifestyle medium keeping fit, yoga has a long-standing fan following including celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Lady Gaga, and Richard Gere amongst many others and this celebration at an international level will further encourage more people of other communities to support and experience a life-changing activity.
The celebration in Dubai is planned at the Al Wasl Sports Club grounds from 8pm onwards in the evening on June 21. The program will begin with an introduction to Yoga as a sport and end with a prize distribution ceremony in various categories to schools and volunteers who have made a considerable contribution in spreading the awareness of Yoga for mental and physical health.
