New Delhi: In preparation for the upcoming International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2024, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) and the Ministry of AYUSH have commenced comprehensive media and outreach activities. Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of I&B, and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of AYUSH, reviewed the plans aimed at promoting the benefits of yoga and the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP).
The Media Units of the Ministry of I&B are set to organize a variety of programs to raise awareness about the CYP and the health benefits of practicing yoga. Key activities include contributions from the Press Information Bureau, Prasar Bharati, the New Media Wing, and other units.
Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster, will play a pivotal role by broadcasting various programs through the Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR) networks. Doordarshan will feature special interviews with yoga experts and live morning shows, while Akashvani will promote yoga as a lifestyle choice in collaboration with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, an autonomous body under the Ministry of AYUSH.
In an effort to amplify the reach of these initiatives, the Ministry of AYUSH has produced a ‘Yoga Geet’ that will be disseminated across all media platforms.
Continuing the initiative started in 2023, the Ministry of I&B will also encourage private media organizations through the Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman (AYDMS). This award recognizes media contributions in promoting yoga, with categories for the best coverage in print, TV, and radio. The awards for 2023 and 2024 will be presented later this year.
The New Media Wing will engage the public with interactive activities like the ‘Yoga with Family’ contest, encouraging families to practice yoga together and share their experiences online using the Yoga Geet. Additionally, a ‘Yoga Quiz – Guess the Aasan’ and an IDY 2024 Podcast will be launched to further engage audiences.
In the lead-up to IDY, various media units and organizations within the Ministry of I&B will hold yoga sessions and workshops, aiming to promote wellness among their employees. Yoga camps and seminars will be conducted to extend these benefits to a broader audience.
Since its inception, the scale and significance of IDY celebrations have grown annually. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been instrumental in promoting yoga globally. In 2023, he led the IDY celebrations at the UN headquarters, an event attended by delegates from 135 nations, setting a Guinness World Record. The main national event in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, saw over 15,000 participants, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, demonstrating the CYP.
Other notable initiatives in 2023 included the ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga,’ where naval personnel from 19 ships across 34 countries participated in yoga demonstrations. The Indian armed forces contributed with the ‘Yoga Bharatmala’ and ‘Yoga Sagarmala’ initiatives, showcasing yoga from the Arctic to Antarctica, including India’s research bases, Himadri and Bharati.
At the grassroots level, the ‘Har Aangan Yoga’ initiative connected rural communities, organizing yoga sessions at Panchayats, Anganwadi centers, and schools, covering around 200,000 locations. The estimated participation for IDY 2023 was an impressive 23.4 crore.