Reference for organizers of promotional activities for International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025
Preface
1st June was recognized as the International Day of Yoga (IDY) by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in December 2014 at the initiative of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. The IDY Resolution (Appendix 1 in Section J) moved by India secured unanimous consent and since 2015, IDY has been an occasion that is observed around the world with great enthusiasm and fervour.
The observance of IDY underscores the profound potential of yoga to enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Beyond celebrating this ancient practice, IDY seeks to educate and inspire people worldwide to embrace its transformative benefits. Over the years, the celebration of yoga through IDY has not only increased its popularity but also expanded its geographical presence, inspiring adoption in numerous new regions. The event has spurred significant advancements in the field of yoga, including the creation of yoga protocols for individuals of all ages, the development of specific protocols targeting lifestyle diseases, and research into yoga as a potential productivity-enhancing tool.
In India, the Ministry of Ayush (MoA) serves as the nodal agency in mobilizing efforts to observe IDY each year. However, the mission to promote awareness and adoption of Yoga on a global scale requires collaborative efforts and could not have been achieved by working in isolation. Over the past ten years of IDY observance, the partnerships formed by the Ministry with key stakeholders—including other Central Ministries, States/UTs, leading Yoga institutions, Yoga centers, independent practitioners, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other civil society organizations—have been instrumental in successfully inspiring an ever-growing number of people to participate in IDY each year. These stakeholders made valuable contributions in promoting the spirit of participation in IDY on a wide scale, thus converting IDY into a mass movement for health and well-being.
MoA is releasing the revised version of the IDY Handbook containing reference material for organizers of promotional activities for IDY-2025, to enable faster, easier, and smoother planning and implementation of IDY activities. The Handbook through standardization of activities will also help to strengthen collaborations among different stakeholders in organizing activities for IDY-2025. The reference material provided herein will enable the organizers to adopt a systematic approach, thus widening the net of potential participants and facilitating the inclusion of a larger number of stakeholders. The Handbook is structured to provide a background on IDY, its significance, past achievements and the importance of the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). It will indicate how individuals and institutions can participate to make IDY a truly universal event. The Ministry has also included a list of publicly accessible digital resources that organizers can leverage, as well as suggestions for various activities that can be conducted by each.
As we step into another year of celebrating yoga on a global scale, the Ministry of Ayush reaffirms its commitment to fostering a culture of well-being through this ancient practice. The success of IDY lies not only in its observance on June 21 but in its continued integration into daily life, encouraging individuals and communities worldwide to experience its transformative impact. We look forward to working alongside our partners to make IDY-2025 even more inclusive, impactful, and far-reaching, ensuring that the spirit of yoga resonates beyond borders and generations.
– Ministry of Ayush
Download The IDY Handbook