The eighth edition of International Day of Yoga (IDY) will be celebrated with the theme “Yoga for Humanity”.

The Ministry of Ayush has chosen this theme for the 8th IYD to be organised in India and across the globe on 21 June. The main event of IDY 2022 demonstration will be held in Mysuru, Karnataka. The theme of last year’s IDY, organised during COVID-19 pandemic was “Yoga for wellness”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the theme in his “Maan Ki Baat’ address. The theme for this year’s IDY has been selected after much deliberation/consultation and it appropriately portrays, how during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic, yoga served the humanity in alleviating the suffering and in the emerging post-covid geo-political scenario too, it will bring people together through compassion, kindness, foster a sense of unity and build resilience among people world over.

Union Minister for Ayush, Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the Prime Minister has suitably announced this year’s IDY theme as “Yoga for Humanity”.

”As we are aware Yoga is a practice that brings joy, health, and peace from within, and it deepens a sense of continuous connection between an individual’s inner consciousness and the external world. IDY 2022 will be successful in propagating this theme appropriately,” he said.

Focusing on Yoga for Humanity, special programmes have been designed this year for specially-abled people, the Transgender population, women and children. Human values that are an integral part of Yoga education in schools are also in focus.

This year our villages/Gram Panchayats will also see huge participation as, the Common Service Centres (CSCs) are promoting the practice and training of Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) and it is expected millions of villagers will participate in the IDY 2022.

The 8th edition of International Day of Yoga will see many firsts, one of them is an innovative programme named “Guardian Ring”, which will showcase the movement of the sun, participation of people performing Yoga will take place along with the movement of the sun from different countries, beginning from the east and marching towards west. It will be a wonderful Relay Yoga Streaming programme telecasted live on DD channels.

As the nation is also celebrating “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”, 75 national-level iconic sites will also be showcasing the mass CYP demonstration on June 21st while respective states will also organise similar programmes at 75 important locations as per their selection.