International Yoga Day Celebration 2023

"Yoga is a light that once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame." - BKS Iyengar.

The ancient art of yoga has a connection to the history of Yoga Day. It is a type of exercise and a meditative act that promotes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Since 3000 BC, yoga has been practised in India, and it plays an important part in old literature like the Rigveda and the Upanishads.

The earliest types of yoga combine physical activity, spirituality, meditation, and fitness. Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism all make reference to it. Yoga was characterized as a way of life in the Patanjali Yoga Sutra of the fourth century BCE. Three varieties of yoga are described in the Mahabharata text:

Action (karma)

Dedication (bhakti)

Knowledge (Jnana)

Together, these three categories bind the body, mind, and soul. Even though yoga has been practised for a very long time in India, the country just recognized International Yoga Day in 2015. The Sanskrit term “yoga” has the literal meaning “to connect” or “to unite.” It represents how the body and consciousness are related.

International Yoga Day was initially proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 27, 2014, during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly. At the time, Asoke Kumar Mukerji, the Indian Ambassador, had sponsored a resolution declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day.

The Summer Solstice, when there is the greatest sunlight throughout the year, falls on June 21, which is why that date was selected. The most nations ever to support a UN resolution, 177 joined together to establish June 21 as International Yoga Day. On June 21, 2015, in New Delhi, nearly 36,000 people participated in the first International Yoga Day, which is now celebrated all over the world. 

The Internatiinal Yoga Day's logo’s folded hands represent yoga, the union, which represents the fusion of a person’s consciousness with that of the universe, a perfect balance between the mind and body, and between man and nature; and a wholistic approach to health and well-being. The green leaves represent nature, the blue leaves the water element, the brightness the fire element, and the Sun the source of all life. The brown leaves represent the Earth element. The yoga practice’s core values of peace and harmony for all people are reflected in the logo.

The theme for Yoga Day 2023, “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” will focus on the participation of one and all without any restriction of age, gender, class, area etc.

Department of Physical Education and Sanskrit association of Govt. College of Teacher Education celebrated International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2023 during which the importance of Yoga was emphasised.

The benefits of yoga are vast and far-reaching. Regular practice improves physical strength, flexibility, and balance, promoting overall health and well-being. It enhances mental clarity, reduces stress, and cultivates a sense of inner calm in the midst of life's challenges. Yoga encourages mindfulness, self-awareness, and compassion, fostering a positive outlook and nurturing our relationships with others.

A poster making competition was conducted at 2 PM at General Hall.  Yogasana practice by student teachers ensued at the Research room of GCTE.

Yoga has become a universal language that transcends cultural and religious boundaries. It promotes inclusivity, acceptance, and mutual respect, reminding us that we are all part of a larger tapestry of humanity.