UN to declare June 21 as World Yoga Day: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj

New Delhi, Dec 7: The United Nations will soon declare June 21 as World Yoga Day following a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday.

"Three months ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to the world community that India's yoga should be celebrated as World Yoga Day. I am happy to inform you that we have received support of 170 nations and four days from today, the United Nations will declare June 21 as the World Yoga Day," Swaraj said at a function in the presence of yoga guru Ramdev.

Addressing the 'Gita Prerna Mahotsav', organised "to celebrate 5,151 years of religious book Gita" at the Red Fort Maidan here, the senior BJP leader said that yoga is not merely an exercise, but a road to prosperity and good health.

During his visit to the United Nations in September this year, Modi had urged the world community to celebrate Indian yoga at the international level and that June 21 be declared as the World Yoga Day.

Last month, European Union president Herman Van Rompuy also told PM Modi that the 28-member EU supported his idea for a Yoga Day at the UN.

Interestingly, in the cabinet reshuffle last month, he also named a minister for Ayush, dealing with Yoga and traditional medicine.

PTI