Image via twitter.com/MEAIndia. We’re not sure why she’s white either.
It’s official, June 21st is now the International Day of Yoga. Says Indian Prime Minister Modi, “Namaste, motherf@*kers!” Kidding, of course. But he is quite elated. On Thursday, with 177 nations backing the initiative, the UN declared that the world will be observing a global day of yoga on the 21st of June, around the time of the summer solstice, when a lot of us are already celebrating by saluting the sun at least 108 times. The day received support from 177 countries, which is pretty impressive. Not surprising are the countries who did not back the idea, Pakistan and Malaysia, where fatwas (which, on the very basic level, are cease and desists) have been issued against yoga since 2008. (We should note there are 193 United Nations member states.)
This was a big win for Indian Prime Minister Modi who had pushed for the day in his speech at the U.N. General Assembly in September when he said, “Yoga should not be just an exercise for us, but it should be a means to get connected with the world and with nature,” declaring yoga “India’s gift.”
In an effort to reclaim India’s yoga history and lineage, the government recently created a department of Ayurveda and Yoga and has plans to dive into the estimated $100 billion global market for alternative medicine.
Modi took to twitter to administer his response and share his joy about the decision.
I urge all of you, especially the youth to take up Yoga & practice it diligently & regularly. It will truly transform your lives as well.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2014
I have been a practicer of Yoga for years & you can’t believe the positive difference it has made in my life. Yoga is the anchor of my life. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2014
The fact that 177 nations across all continents came together & co-sponsored the resolution shows the integrative power of Yoga. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2014
Yoga has the power to bring the entire humankind together! It beautifully combines Gyan (knowledge), Karm (work) and Bhakti (devotion).
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2014
I profusely thank all 177 Nations across the world who co-sponsored the resolution to declare 21st June as ‘International Day of Yoga.’
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2014
He also shared a link to this speech he gave in 2013 at the opening of the Lakulish Yoga University on the power of yoga.
This all sounds like good news, but Modi still draws some side eyes from his critics over his past (and present) politics. Hopefully, the International Day of Yoga will be something we can all celebrate free from political motives.
Again, we have no idea yet how the International Day of Yoga will be (or should be?) celebrated. We’d love to hear your ideas, though!
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Earlier…
Celebrate International Day of Yoga by:
• Standing on your head for 3 hours
• Practicing kumbhaka until Ida and Pingala merge in Sushumna
• Smearing ashes all over your body and meditating in a cemetary
• Drinking the middle stream of your morning urine
• Gazing at the empty center of a candle flame for 3 hours
• Gazing at the sunrise and sunset
• Asana on a cow dung floor
Or:
• Buying Lululemon Yoga pants
Will it be a day of practice or a day of consumerism?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party and formerly chief minister of the state of Gujurat, bears responsibility for the massacre in 2002 of more than a thousand Muslim people by Hindu mobs, for which he has refused all accountability. How might we read his reflections about the “integrative” power of yoga if we contextualise them in his political legacy of inciting communal violence?
2002 Gujarat riots: No evidence that Narendra Modi incited rioters or pressured police, says SIT
Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/2002-gujarat-riots-no-evidence-narendra-modi-incited-rioters-or-pressured-police-sit/1/267769.html
A US judge has dismissed a lawsuit charging Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with crimes against humanity during the 2002 Gujarat riots. read more at http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30826044?OCID=fbasia