International Yoga Day: 21 June, Its Story and How to Take Part

Yoga basics 3 illustrations Updated 2 Nov 2026

International Yoga Day, officially the International Day of Yoga, is celebrated every year on 21 June. Across India and in many other countries, people gather in parks, schools and offices, or roll out a mat at home, to practise together in the morning.

This page answers the common questions: when is yoga day, why that date was chosen, how the day began, what the common yoga protocol includes, and easy ways for families, schools and offices to join. This is an independent guide; for official events and the theme announced each year, check the Ministry of Ayush website.

Date: 21 June, every year
Official name: International Day of Yoga
Declared by: United Nations General Assembly
Proposed by: India
Why 21 June: Longest day in the northern hemisphere
Typical session: About 45 minutes, early morning

When is international yoga day?

Yoga day is always on 21 June. Yoga divas kab manaya jata hai has the same answer in every year: 21 June, usually with the main group session held early in the morning, around 6 to 8 am local time. Some events run on the evening before or the weekend after, but the official date never changes.

International yoga day in pictures

International yoga day in a park with figures on rows of mats at sunrise — Level
All levels
Hold
45 minute session
Works on
Community
On 21 June, parks and grounds fill with rows of mats. Group practice is the heart of the day.
**Teacher's cue:** Arrive early, place your mat with an arm's length of space on every side.

Yoga day at home with two figures doing tree pose on mats in a living room — Level
All levels
Hold
5 breaths each side
Works on
Balance
You do not need a big event. Practising at home with family on 21 June is just as much part of the day.
**Teacher's cue:** Stand near a wall the first time you try a balance pose.

Office yoga day stretch with a figure raising both arms while seated at a desk — Level
All levels
Hold
3 breaths
Works on
Shoulders, spine
Offices often mark the day with a short seated routine. Overhead stretches and gentle twists suit desk workers.
**Teacher's cue:** Interlace the fingers, turn the palms up and lengthen through the side waist.

Why 21 June was chosen

21 June is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. In yoga tradition the solstice marks the start of dakshinayana, the half of the year when the sun's path moves south, and it has long been seen as a good time for spiritual practice. The long daylight also makes early outdoor sessions easy in much of the world.

How the international day of yoga began

India proposed the idea of a global yoga day in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. The proposal was supported by a record number of countries, and the General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in the December that followed. The first worldwide celebration was held the next June, with a large public session in New Delhi on Rajpath, now Kartavya Path.

Since then, the day has been marked every year in most countries, with events organised by Indian missions abroad, schools, yoga groups and community centres. Each year the Ministry of Ayush announces a theme that guides official events.

What the common yoga protocol includes

Official events in India follow a common yoga protocol, a set sequence of about 45 minutes designed for all ages. In outline it includes:

A short opening prayer.
Loosening practices for the neck, shoulders, waist and knees.
Standing poses such as tadasana, vrikshasana and trikonasana.
Sitting poses such as vajrasana and a simple seated twist.
Prone and supine poses such as bhujangasana, setu bandhasana and pawanmuktasana.
Kapalbhati and gentle breathing such as nadi shodhana and bhramari.
Meditation, a resolve (sankalpa) and a closing prayer.

The full official protocol booklet and videos are published by the Ministry of Ayush. Our pose pages explain each step in more detail.

Simple ways to celebrate yoga day

At home: practise 30 to 45 minutes with family, ending with five minutes of rest.
In school: a 20 minute session with standing poses, balance games and humming breath. See yoga for kids for safe ideas.
At work: a short desk routine from our chair yoga guide, or the five minute yoga break.
For older relatives: chair based poses and slow breathing.
Start a habit: use the day as day one of a 21 day practice, even 10 minutes each morning.

Happy yoga day messages that sound genuine

If you want to share a greeting, keep it simple and personal. A few ideas you can adapt:

Wishing you a calm mind and a strong body this yoga day. See you on the mat.
One breath, one pose, one day at a time. Happy International Day of Yoga.
Today is a good day to start, and tomorrow is a good day to continue.

A short note inviting a friend to practise with you does more than any forwarded image.

Tips for practising outdoors on yoga day

Eat lightly the night before and skip breakfast until after the session, but drink water.
Carry a mat or a thick bedsheet, a small towel and a water bottle.
Wear breathable clothes that let you bend and twist.
Skip poses that do not suit you; nobody needs to follow every step.
If you have a health condition, practise the gentler options and keep your medicines with you.

Practise on an empty stomach, move slowly into each position and stop at any sharp pain. If you have an injury, a health condition or are pregnant, check with a doctor or an experienced teacher first.