Do you know Why International Yoga Day is celebrated on 21st June?
Do you know that 21st June happens to be the longest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere? The other important happening of the day is the International Day of Yoga, commonly referred to as Yoga day an Idea proposed and promoted by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a unanimous resolution, following which the yoga, spiritual discipline is now a UN observance. The International Day of Yoga is being celebrated in UN-affiliated countries including those, not following Hindu traditions since 2015. Thus, Yoga is becoming immensely popular, cutting across the border lines. Promoting peace, harmony, and health.
Highlights : –
- June 21 is the longest day of the year in Northern hemisphere.
- The day has scientific and mythological importance.
- Special importance is attached to the day in diverse traditions.
- Yoga is a holistic healing approach to stay fit.
History of yoga:
Yoga, a form of meditation and exercise was derived from Hindu and other Eastern religious practices, meant to unite body and the soul. Yoga finds references in ancient religious and mythological literature since ages. Maharshi Patanjali, who compiled 193 ‘yoga sutras’ is revered as the ‘father of yoga’, as he laid the foundation of yoga, the most effective method to rejuvenate and connect, body and the soul. The word yoga has Sanskrit root and was derived from ‘Yuj’ means ‘to unite’. According to old scriptures, yoga connects one’s consciousness with that o universal consciousness, thus leading to perfect harmony. The person, who experiences this oneness of existence, is a ‘yogi’. The practice of yoga is said to be started with the very dawn of civilisation.
The science of yoga has its origins thousands of years back, even before the birth of any religious faith, practice or belief.
Benefits of yoga:
Yoga, an exercise performed with diet control, breathing and body postures is a holistic healing approach to stay fit and healthy. Practicing yoga comes with immense physical and mental health benefits. Yoga helps to boost confidence; it assists in losing weight and keeps you active. It regulates blood pressure, keeping many serious ailments at bay. Even the researches in western countries have started giving clues how yoga keeps a human healthy preventing serious ailments. Many studies have concluded that practicing yoga also helps decrease secretion of Cortisol, a stress making hormone in the human body.
International Day of Yoga:
On December 11, 2014, the permanent representative of India in United Nations introduced the draft resolution in UN general assembly, which received massive support from 175 of the total 193 affiliated members and was adopted without a vote. And history was created as never before any UNGA resolution of this nature found such immense support. While proposing June 21 as International Yoga day, the Indian premier Narendra Modi told that the day is longest in the year in Northern hemisphere, with special significance attached to it in various traditions and cultures.
Why 21st June was chosen ?
June 21 was selected to commemorate the 6000-year old practice as the date has deep mythological connections. The day marks the beginning of the Yogic science.
According to the spiritual leader Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev, in Yogic culture lord Shiva is considered as the first yogi or the Adiyogi. Scientifically, on June 21 the tilt of the earth axis in the northern hemisphere is most inclined towards the sun, thus making the day as the longest in the year, with sun rising early and setting late . Many countries including India mark the day with festivity.