PM Modi to lead Yoga Day 2023 celebrations with people from over 180 nations at UN HQ

New Delhi: People from over 180 countries from different walks of life, including diplomats, academicians and entrepreneurs are expected to participate in the International Day of Yoga celebrations led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York on June 21, sources said on Saturday.
A notable highlight of PM Modi-led government’s overseas successes and overall measures to boost India’s global image has been the proclamation of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in his first year in office.
As the BJP-led government at the Centre completes nine years of its rule and with leaders spreading the word about its achievements, the decision to hold the Yoga celebrations at the UN headquarters, where the proclamation was made, is significant. The government is pulling out all the stops to make the event a massive success.
According to official sources, people from over 180 countries will participate in the Yoga Day event. They will comprise diplomats, leaders, artists, key cultural figures, academicians and entrepreneurs.
PM Modi, who will be on a maiden state visit to the United States from June 21-25, will lead the ninth annual International Yoga Day celebrations at the UN headquarters between 8 am and 9 am at its North Lawn.
After being elected to office in 2014, PM Modi addressed his maiden speech at the UN General Assembly where he called for the adoption of an International Day of Yoga, describing the ancient Indian tradition as an invaluable gift to humankind.
“Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature,” the Prime Minister had said.
His appeal resonated worldwide and a December 2014 resolution introduced by India was backed by a record 175 UN member states. The resolution highlighted the importance of individuals and populations making healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health.
In the past few years, the ruling BJP government has been relentless in its effort to make yoga more popular in India and abroad. Several leaders, including PM Modi, have attended mass yoga sessions in different parts of the country to commemorate the day.