Why is Yoga Day celebrated on 21 June? Important facts related to yoga

International Yoga Day is celebrated every year on 21 June. Yoga is recognized not only in India but worldwide as a symbol of health, mental peace and spiritual balance. This day is a platform to emphasize the importance of yoga globally, some interesting facts related to yoga are mentioned here.

Why is Yoga Day celebrated on 21 June?: In 2014, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi made a proposal in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to recognize Yoga globally and set a special day for it. The proposal was approved by the support of 177 countries and 21 June was declared International Yoga Day. The proposal was one of the fastest passage proposals in the history of the United Nations, which set a record with the support of 177 out of 193 countries in just three months.

There are scientific and cultural reasons behind choosing 21 June as Yoga Day. This day is the longest day of the year and symbolizes summer solstice. This day is considered to be the beginning of spiritual change in Indian culture. It is a symbol of the time of Uttarayan, which is considered very auspicious for the practice of yoga. For this reason, 21 June was selected as Yoga Day.

Historical roots of yoga: Yoga is not a modern trend, but its history is thousands of years old. Yoga started in India about 5000 years ago. Rigveda and Indus Valley Civilization have found shapes of a person sitting in meditation posture, which confirm the ancient origin of yoga.

Yoga Sutra of Patanjali: Maharishi Patanjali is credited with developing yoga as a systematic philosophy. His ‘Yoga Sutra’ explains in detail about Ashtanga Yoga (Yama, Niyam, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharna, Dhyan, Samadhi). These sutras still remain the basis of yoga practice.

Yoga: Not only limited to rugs: Most people consider yoga as only physical exercise. But yoga is not limited to just asanas; It is an overall lifestyle and philosophy. Apart from physical health, it also emphasizes mental, emotional and spiritual balance.

Supported by science: Modern science has accepted the benefits of yoga. Yoga not only reduces stress but also improves mental health, increases physical flexibility and strengthens the immune system. According to recent research conducted in 2025, yoga is also considered helpful in repairing DNA.

United Nations record: The proposal passed on International Yoga Day is one of the fastest passed proposals in the history of the United Nations. The proposal passed with the support of 177 countries in just three months is a historic achievement.

Yoga is not just physical exercise, it is a combination of mind, body and soul. It helps us live stress -free, healthy and balanced life. The International Yoga Day, celebrated on 21 June, is an important step towards spreading this ancient Indian science worldwide. We can all respect this tradition by starting yoga practice on this day or by doing regular practice.

We can live a healthy, peaceful and rich life by adopting yoga as a lifestyle. So, make yoga a part of your life on this Yoga Day and experience its amazing benefits!