'Nobody is making yoga compulsory. If you don't want to do it, it is okay. Yoga has no religion.'
On Sunday, under the shadow of Covid-19, several leaders and politicians, including President Ram Nath Kovind, chief ministers of various states, and several Union ministers, among others, performed yoga at their residence, along with their families. For the first time since June 21, 2015, Yoga Day is being celebrated digitally. This year's theme is 'Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family'. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the occasion of Yoga Day and said that due to the coronavirus pandemic, the world is feeling the need for yoga more than ever.
Today, learn about Utthita Trikonasana or the Extended Triangle Pose.
The celebrations in China will be second biggest in the world after India.
Here are some of the glimpses of the celebrations.
As we prep for International Yoga Day, here's a quiz to test you on all things Yoga.
After the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day in December last year at India's request, the officers in the Ministry of Ayush began ideating about how to celebrate it in the country.
Sadhus and seers of Haridwar on Tuesday threatened to launch a countrywide agitation if surya namaskar is not included.
The PMO said mass yoga demonstrations will be organised at 75 iconic locations across the country under the leadership of 75 Union ministers, with Modi attending the exercise at Mysore.
The stage is set for International Yoga Day celebrations tomorrow as India leads 191 countries to mark the day with over 35,000 participants expected to perform various yoga 'asanas' at a mega event on Rajpath in New Delhi.
Not to be left behind, the armed forces have planned yoga sessions on board warships and even at Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, to celebrate the first International Yoga Day on June 21.
The former South African cricketer posted a picture of his adorable daughter stretching in bed and Jonty gave the photograph a relevant spin.
As the world on Sunday celebrated the inaugural International Day of Yoga, in Pakistan it remained confined to the premises of Indian High Commission in Islamabad with the staff of the mission along with other foreign diplomats in the country performing 'asanas'.
Indian Army personnel on Wednesday conducted yoga sessions at more than 100 locations along the country's land and maritime borders, forming a 'Bharatmala' on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday clear that participation in the events was not 'compulsory'.
In a statement, the police said that they were treating the incident as a serious issue, and the Serious and Organised Crime Department was investigating it with "utmost urgency."
Ahead of the event, Shripad Naik, the Union minister of state (independent charge) for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, which is coordinating yoga day, speaks to Upasna Pandey.
While Modi will be performing yoga along with thousands of people at the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh, his cabinet colleagues Singh and Jaitley have been assigned the task of leading the 2nd IYD programmes in Lucknow and Mumbai respectively.
India on Sunday set two new Guinness World Records for Yoga with 35,985 participants performing asanas at one venue and as many as 84 nationalities joining in the official observation of International Yoga Day on Rajpath in New Delhi.
While Congress criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government for being "insensitive", saying yoga, a great discipline of ancient India, does not belong to the saffron party, Janata Dal-United termed it as yet another attempt to "impose the communal agenda" on Indian masses.
The UN will commemorate the inaugural International Yoga Day on June 21 with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Cut off from the world in his solitary confinement in the Jodhpur jail, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has turned his attention to a group of usually unremarkable visitors -- ants. Perhaps, he is drawn to the sense of solidarity and team spirit they display, his wife and HIAL co-founder Gitanjali Angmo says.
The Indian ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna, said it was a moving sight to see people turning up in large numbers at the heart of the US capital for the event.
Film folk celebrate International Yoga Day with pictures of them doing, well, yoga!
This year's theme is 'Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family' and people will be able to join the celebrations virtually at 7 am on June 21. The Indian missions abroad are trying to reach out to the people through digital media as well as through the network of institutions which support yoga, officials said.
Reigning 48kg world champion Meenakshi Hooda, scheduled to fight in the opening bout in the women's section, was seen curled up on a yoga mat inside the hall late afternoon, conserving energy while waiting for word on when she would fight.
Ahead of the Yoga day, the prime minister posted a video on his Twitter handle giving a message that yoga is a 'passport' to health assurance.
With close to 40,000 people expected to take part in the 'International Yoga Day' event on June 21, the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) ministry is contemplating on registering the mega event into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Trained sniffer dogs such as the one used in Osama raid, German Shepherd and Labradors will be deployed.
Do you agree with the minorities' viewpoint that that the government is enforcing 'Hindu practices' on them forcefully?
Also, as part of the IDY celebrations, entry to all ASI sites will be "free of cost" for the public on June 21, the ministry of culture said in a statement on Friday.
'I want to say to my Muslim friends that if they want to free Islam from the curse of terrorism, they have to embrace spirituality and yoga helps that. Yoga promotes serenity.'
On World Hypertension Day, Atmarpit Dr Mansiji lists five gentle yoga poses that ease stress, calm the mind, and lower blood pressure naturally
Fitness and yoga is a big part of Bollywood and, on International Yoga Day, film folk show off their best asanas.
Manisha Verma, a yoga therapist at GRIID, says the participants are looking forward to the event with a lot of enthusiasm. "These students are very excited about the event and they want to give their best performance. They also talk about getting a selfie with the prime minister," Manisha Verma said.
Dr Aarti Ullal suggests simple remedies to manage your blood sugar levels.
On World Asthma Day, yoga expert Nisarg Ved shows how this ancient practice can offer relief to those living with asthma.
Dr Rahul Gupta, director-cardiologist at Gleneagles Hospital, Mumbai, shares simple habits that will help you prioritise your heart's health.
On International Yoga Day, Bollywood stars show us just how good they are on the mat.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances