The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the concept of International Yoga Day during his 2014 address to the United Nations General Assembly. The proposal was endorsed by a record 175 member states and the United Nations General Assembly officially declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated on June 21, 2015.

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the concept of International Yoga Day during his 2014 address to the United Nations General Assembly. The proposal was endorsed by a record 175 member states and the United Nations General Assembly officially declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11, 2014. The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated on June 21, 2015.

The date of June 21 was chosen because it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares a special significance in many parts of the world. In Hinduism, for example, June 21 is the day of the summer solstice, which is a time of celebration and renewal.

The International Day of Yoga is an opportunity to raise awareness of the many benefits of practicing yoga, which include improved physical and mental health, stress relief, and spiritual well-being. It is also a time to celebrate the rich and diverse history of yoga, which has been practiced for centuries in India and other parts of the world.