International Day of Yoga 2021 to be a virtual event due to Covid-19

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In view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent restrictions in congregational activities, the lead event of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2021 will be a televised programme.

Scheduled to start at 6.30 AM on all Doordarshan channels.

The seventh International Day of Yoga comes up at a time when the world fights Covid-19. But the pandemic doesn’t seem to have dampened the enthusiasm for Yoga, going by the buzz observed in the digital space in the last few weeks.

The Ministry of Ayush, the nodal Ministry for IDY, has highlighted the important role of Yoga in one’s overall wellbeing, through various activities organised in the run up to the International Day of Yoga (IDY).

The main theme of IDY 2021 is “Yoga for Wellness”, which is aligned to the current pre-occupations. Numerous digital initiatives taken by the Ministry together with nearly 1000 other stake-holding institutions made the practice of Yoga accessible to the public, despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. The Missions of India abroad are coordinating various activities in the run up to the 21st June in their respective countries, and as per reports, Yoga Day will be observed in about 190 countries globally.

The observance of Yoga Day is timely as health is foremost in the thoughts of one and all today, following the Covid- 19 emergency. It is significant that the key purpose behind the United Nations recognising the 21st of June as the IDY was to underline the potential of Yoga in public health globally.

IDY over the years has not only boosted Yoga’s popularity, but also expanded its geographical presence by inspiring its adoption in several new territories. The event has also triggered new advances within the field of Yoga, such as development of universal Yoga protocols for people of all ages, development of specific protocols addressing lifestyle diseases, and research into Yoga’s potential as a productivity enhancing tool.

The pandemic experience has made the public more conscious about the health benefits of Yoga, and this experience has duly been accommodated by the Ministry of Ayush in its promotional efforts. The Ministry’s advisories on Covid-19 highlighted the importance of regular practice of Yoga to boost the immunity level and combat Covid-19.