PERMANENT MISSION OF INDIA

GENEVA 

PRESS RELEASE 

CELEBRATION OF THE 3RD INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA IN GENEVA

          The Permanent Mission of India in Geneva, comprising Missions to the U.N., WTO, Conference on Disarmament as well as Consulate General of India, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation at Geneva organized a guided Yoga practice session on 18 June 2017 to observe the Third International Day of Yoga. 

2. The event began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Ambassador Rajiv K Chander, in his welcome remarks, recalled that the United Nations General Assembly, at the initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, adopted a resolution in 2014 that declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga and recognized Yoga as a holistic approach to health and wellness. He underscored that as an emerging India playing a greater role on the world stage, contributing to the betterment of mankind.. 

3. Assistant Director General, and Chief of Staff, in WIPO, Shri Naresh Prasad, remarked that Yoga is India’s gift to the mankind. He added that Yoga constitutes a very important component of India's rich and diverse Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions and it is only befitting that this event is being organized in the WIPO where Member-States have been engaged in extensive and intense negotiations to protect these invaluable, intangible resources. 

4. This was followed by the screening of a special video message on Yoga Day from Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri NarendraModi, Hon’ble External Affairs Minister, Smt. Sushma Swaraj and Hon’ble Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister for AYUSH. 

5. Indian Association Geneva, Isha Foundation, AOM Yoga, the Art of Living, Sivananda Yoga Centre, Integral Yoga, Brahma Kumaris, Sri Chinmoy Centre, were partners in organizing the event which saw enthusiastic participation, including of Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives, officials from various UN organizations and other International organizations based in Geneva, yoga enthusiasts, local community and friends of India living in Geneva and around. 

6. The event was Live Streamed on Facebook, Twitter and Periscope and the Hashtag #YogaDay was trending locally on Twitter.  In the international city of Geneva IDY-2017 proved successful in promoting the message of peace and harmony.