If you’re not part of a witch’s coven observing Litha, or the Summer Solstice, tomorrow, then you’re probably among the many who know of June 21 as International Yoga Day. That’s right, an entire day recognised by the United Nations and dedicated to the benefits of a complex mind-body practice that originated in our lovely sub-continent.
What Is Yoga Day?
The date is significant in Hindu Mythology as well. It is said to mark the transition to Dakshinaya that period in the year when spiritual activity is believed to be the strongest. It is also said that Shiva gave humans the gift of yoga on this day, and became the first yoga teacher. International Yoga Day, however, has only been around for four years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested the date to the UN in 2015. 177 out of 193 members of the UN General Assembly voted in favour of the proposal submitted by Asoke Kumar Mukerji, our representative from India.
How Yoga Day Is Celebrated
The first time around, a world record was made for ‘the largest yoga class’, as 35,985 people gathered at Rajpath, New Delhi. Among them were 84 dignitaries from other countries.
This year, Dehradun is to be the epicentre, with an anticipated footfall of 50,000. The venue? Uttarakhand’s Forest Research Institute (FRI). The Institute will offer nearly 450 hectares with a plinth area of 2.5 hectares, reports Hindustan Times. Like the previous years, June 21 will be all about yoga retreats, training, camps, and all kinds of programmes aimed at promoting the discipline. For example, our old friend Baba Ramdev has already begin a 3-day camp in Kota, Rajasthan. But keeping India aside for a moment, let’s talk about ‘international’ dimensions.
The Spread Of Yoga
“Many countries which do not know our language, tradition, or culture, are now connecting to India through yoga,” Modi has said. And you can see it in how 36 million people in the US alone practice yoga. With a global market value of $80 billion, yoga is one of our most valuable exports.
But the intermingling of yoga with the West’s cultures and lifestyles has created chimerae like “goat yoga”. Yes, you heard that right. Goat Yoga is a breed of its own, born in a small farm in Oregon USA. Another, almost counterproductive version is “Beer Yoga”, brought to you by some kids in Berlin. Still though, the spread is undeniable.
Why Yoga?
According to the Prime Minister (who does yoga everyday), there’s something for everyone. “Young people who are not at peace with themselves seek refuge in drugs and alcohol. There is ample evidence that practicing yoga helps combat stress and chronic conditions,” said Modi. He has also stated that yoga “can help us deal with climate change.” We might need a peer-reviewed study on the veracity of that statement, though.
Yoga Day And Hindutva
Coming back to India itself, Yoga Day has been seen as a rather controversial imposition of dominant Hindu culture and ideology. It has already risked of providing a narrow portrait of India at a global stage. At home, it is being held up as a marker of allegiance, in the same way as shouting “Bharat Mata ki jai” and standing for the national anthem in movie theatres.
This isn’t to deny the positive impacts of the discipline, but it is something worth thinking about when International Yoga day rolls around tomorrow.
So pull out a mat, and Yoga on, Garth.