At the initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, who during his address at the UN in year 2014 first suggested annual celebration of Yoga celebrated globally by the global community embracing healthy lifestyle and holistic well-being with the practice of Yoga. He proposed to observe International Day of Yoga on June 21 which is the longest day of the Year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares special significance in many cultures and parts of the world. In Indian calendars, the summer solstice marks the transition to Dakshinayan and the second full moon day after the summer solstice is celebrated as Guru Purnima (Full moon day dedicated to the veneration of the Teachers and the Masters, including the Masters of Yoga – the Yogi). Shiva - the first yogi (Adi Yogi), is believed to have started imparting the knowledge of yoga to the mankind on this day, and was known as the first guru (Adi Guru -n the Master).
On 11 December 2014, India’s Permanent Mission to the UN introduced the draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which received support of 177 Member States who sponsored the text and the resolution was adopted with full support without a vote. A total of 177 nations co-sponsored the resolution, which is the highest number of co-sponsors ever for any UNGA resolution. With the adoption of the resolution, the International Day of Yoga (IDY) was first celebrated on June 21, 2015. This year in June 2023 it will be the 8th year of celebrations of IDY with our friends world over.
In Slovenia, the Embassy of India celebrates IDY with all its partners in the field of Yoga and Wellness under the brand of Surya Festival of Yoga and Wellness. This year it will be the third edition of 10-day Surya Festival of Yoga and Wellness, which will commence with a curtain raiser event on 10th June and will be celebrated from June 12 to 21 over 25 cities of beautiful Slovenia, some of the Major cities and municipalities being Ljubljana, Koper, Novo Mesto, Nova Gorica, Celje, Maribor, Vipava, Slovenj Gradec, Brežice, Maribor, Kranj, Postojna, Murska Sobota… and more, with a culmination of the festival on the IDY, the 21 June 2023 this year in the port city of Slovenia – Koper.
The #IDY2023 theme is “One Earth One Family” – principle that is the way of living of an every India, a cultural ethos that every India lives and passes on these traditions to their future generation, is a principle that guides India’s foreign policy and is a theme of India’s Group of 20 Nations (G20) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) Presidency this year. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India launched the Mission LiFE – Lifestyle For Environment in October 2022, which with the use of humble and nature-friendly practices will bring immense benefits to the mankind the environment. With these beliefs, Embassy of India’s 3rd edition of Surya Festival of Yoga and Wellness, alongwith Embassy’s valuable partners from India and Slovenia – the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India; Indian Council for Cultural Relations (MEA); Municipalities partnering with the Embassy; University of Ljubljana, Alma Mater Europeae, Maribor; Yoga Associations and schools in Slovenia including the Isha Foundations, Art of Living, Yoga in Daily Life; Gayatri, Kundalini, KAJA – and more… will celebrate the 8th International Day of Yoga.
We look forward towards your active participation.
Embassy of India
Ljubljana
