The United Nations on Thursday proclaimed June 21 to be International Day of Yoga, following a proposal from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution inviting governments worldwide to seize the opportunity of that day to “raise awareness about the benefits of practising yoga.”
Modi, a vegetarian who practises yoga daily, made the proposal during his maiden address to the United Nations in September and last month appointed a yoga minister to his cabinet.
“Elated!” he tweeted on Thursday. “Have no words to describe my joy on the UN declaring 21st June as ‘International Day of Yoga.’ I fully welcome the decision.”