With the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 drawing near, the Indian Yoga Association (IYA) has stepped forward to take an active part in the upcoming celebrations. In a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Ayush, a delegation led by IYA Secretary General Subodh Tiwari presented their proposed activities, according to a statement issued by the Ministry on Thursday.
Representatives from 27 IYA state chapters took part in the discussions, reflecting their strong commitment and enthusiasm towards making IDY 2025 a grand success.
The Ministry of Ayush thanked the IYA for their proactive approach and advance planning for IDY 2025. This collaboration is expected to enhance the celebration and promote the benefits of yoga on a global scale.
As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the theme for IDY 2025 is “Yoga for One Earth One Health,”. The Prime Minister has also appealed to everyone to include Yoga into their routine and take pride in the country’s traditional wisdom for overall well-being. IYA expressed its commitment to spreading the theme through various institutions.
The IYA members stated that many of them have already chalked out a specific plan to carry out activities related to the 10 unique signature events that have been identified to mark the 10th anniversary of International Day of Yoga 2025.
These 10 signature events are:
Yoga Sangam – A synchronised Yoga demonstration at 1,00,000 locations, aiming for a world record
Yoga Bandhan – Global partnerships with 10 countries to host Yoga sessions at iconic landmarks.
Yoga Parks– Development of 1,000 Yoga Parks for long-term community engagement.
Yoga Samavesh – Yoga Samavesh is an inclusive initiative promoting accessible yoga for persons with special needs, children, seniors, and marginalized groups. It features 10 key events, each focusing on a specific yoga protocol for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, mental health, and substance abuse. Over 1,000 participants will undergo a 10-day training conducted by partner organizations.
Yoga Prabhav – A decadal impact assessment on Yoga’s role in public health.
Yoga Connect – A Virtual Global Yoga Summit featuring renowned Yoga experts and healthcare professionals.
Harit Yoga – A sustainability-driven initiative combining Yoga with tree planting and clean-up drives.
Yoga Unplugged – An event to attract young people to Yoga
Yoga Maha Kumbh – A week-long festival across 10 locations, culminating in a central celebration led by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
Samyoga – A 100-day initiative integrating Yoga with modern healthcare for holistic wellness.
IYA members will strive to ensure that their IDY 2025 activities will revolve around the above signature events.
The International Day of Yoga (IDY) has become a global wellness movement, uniting millions across countries. Here’s a brief look at its key milestones:
IDY 2015 – New Delhi: The first IDY at Rajpath saw 35,985 participants, setting two Guinness World Records.
IDY 2016 – Chandigarh: 30,000+ participants gathered at Capitol Complex, including 150 Divyangjan performing Yoga Protocol for the first time. The Prime Minister emphasised Yoga’s role in treating ailments like diabetes.
IDY 2017 – Lucknow: 51,000 participants joined at Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, with Yoga highlighted as affordable ‘health insurance’.
IDY 2018 – Dehradun: 50,000+ participants at Forest Research Institute, with the theme “Yoga for Public Health”. ISRO launched BHUVAN-YOGA and Yoga Locator apps.
IDY 2019 – Ranchi: Focused on ‘Yoga for Heart Care’, with eco-friendly Yoga accessories benefiting Khadi artisans.
IDY 2020 – Virtual: Amid the pandemic, 12.06 crore people joined online. The “My Life, My Yoga” contest attracted entries from 130 countries.
IDY 2021 – Virtual: Themed “Yoga for Wellness”, reaching 496.1 million people globally. Iconic celebrations occurred at Times Square, the Eiffel Tower, and Tokyo Skytree.
IDY 2022 – Mysuru: 15,000 participants at Mysore Palace, with a ‘Guardian Ring’ global Yoga relay and VR-powered digital exhibition.
IDY 2023 – Jabalpur & UN HQ, New York: With 23.44 crore participants, this IDY set two Guinness World Records, including the most significant Yoga session (1.53 lakh participants in Surat). The ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ covered 35,000 km.
