The stage is set for the celebration of the third United Nations International Yoga Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi, will perform asanas at the Rama Bai Ambedkar ground in Lucknow. A slew of other activities are also lined for the celebration of yoga day across the country.
Modi has also said that three generations of a family should perform yoga on this day, and even share pictures of the celebration on social media.
Meanwhile, more than 100 countries are participating in the celebrations. In fact, yoga sessions and events have already kicked off in various parts of the world, last week itself. Here's a look at how the rest of the world is celebrating International Yoga Day.
China: In China, yoga added to the magnificence of the Great Wall of China. On Tuesday, many Chinese yoga lovers gathered at the Great Wall, spread out their mats and practised yoga asanas. This first-of-its-kind event was organised by the Indian Embassy in Beijing, along with the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Yogi Yoga Institute in Beijing. The yoga day celebrations will go on for a week. In an attempt to popularise yoga in China, which already has its share of followers, 20 yoga ambassadors from India—10 men and 10 women, aged between 22 and 30—selected by the Ministry of AYUSH and the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, toured China and held workshops.
US: In Washington, hundreds of people gathered at the historic National Mall and performed asanas on June 18. While yoga sessions and celebrations will be held in various parts of the country, New York seems to be the most charged up. On June 19, the UN headquarters in New York was lit up with the word 'Yoga'. Bollywood actor Anupam Kher switched on the illumination lights. This is the second consecutive year that the UN headquarters has been specially lit up to mark yoga day. New Yorkers will also head to the bustling Times Square with their yoga mats for the 'Mind over Madness Yoga' celebrations. Besides organising yoga sessions and talk shows, this year, the UN Postal Administration is issuing a set of 10 postal stamps. Each stamp depicts a different asana, with Om written in the Devanagari script.
Egypt: Besides Cairo, this year's yoga day celebrations will extend to Alexandria and Ismailai as well. The Indian embassy, along with the Egyptian government, is organising several events, including flash mobs at the Pyramids, Qasr el-Nil and Tahrir Square. In Cairo, the celebrations will be at the Baron Empain Palace, aka El Palais Hindou (literally, the Hindu Palace), which is a distinctive historic India-inspired mansion in Heliopolis, a suburb in Cairo.
Japan: While Japan, too, spreads the mat for yoga day celebrations, what is interesting is that Japan is the only country in the world to have set up a Parliamentary League for the promotion of yoga. The 42-member league was launched during Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's visit to Japan in April this year.
Israel: Israel's largest yoga day event will be held at the Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. Besides celebrating yoga, the day also marks 25 years of Indo-Israel diplomatic ties. Thousands are Israelis are expected to participate in this event in which 1,500 yoga mats will be arranged to form a giant art installation. According to media reports, the artwork will portray what Israel will look like in 30 years.
