Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Leads Yoga Day Celebrations at UN in Geneva

Geneva [Switzerland], June 21: Global spiritual master and founder of The Art of Living, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, led the Yoga Day Celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva on June 20 and 21. The Art of Living, along with the Ministry of Ayush, organized events across India, from the Sino-Bhutan borders to beaches in Chennai.

During his keynote address at the UN, Gurudev said, “It’s time for this ancient art of inner blossoming to be in the spotlight. Yoga has proved to be a boon for humankind. We have seen it helps heal illnesses, resolve problems, increase resilience, make the mind happy and sharpen the intellect. Yoga should be done along with pranayamas and meditation, without which yogasanas remain just physical exercises.”

Yoga enthusiasts filled public parks, corporate offices, and stadia. Thousands of inmates across prisons, as well as chief justices and members of High Courts, participated in yoga sessions. Government ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Indian Tax Department, Defence Forces, Paramilitary forces, and others, also joined the celebrations.

Highlights included hundreds meditating and performing asanas at Dolma Lakhang Buddhist Temple in Arunachal Pradesh, Surat and Durgapur Airports, and Pataliputra Stadium. The Chief Justice of Patna High Court and the Governor of Bihar, Hon. Vishwanath Arlekar, also participated. Yoga sessions were held at various police training institutes, battalions, and prisons across India.

Internationally, thousands joined the celebrations in Malaysia, Taiwan, Australia, Sweden, Iceland, and New Zealand. The Indian Embassy in Copenhagen, Tallinn, and other European countries also participated.