The Consulate General of India (CGI) in New York celebrated International Day of Yoga 2025 with a variety of exciting events that highlighted yoga’s international appeal and message of harmony and well-being.
The celebrations began in Westchester, where the CGI, in partnership with the Town of Greenburgh and the Indian Cultural Association of North America (ICANA), hosted a large-scale yoga event that drew enthusiastic participation from the local community. The event showcased yoga’s universality and worldwide significance, as people from many backgrounds gathered to appreciate the ancient Indian practice.
Building on the enthusiasm from Westchester, CGI New York held a high-profile yoga session in Times Square, one of the world’s most renowned locales. This event, produced in collaboration with Times Square NYC, converted the busy intersection into an open-air yoga studio, drawing hundreds of yoga aficionados, locals, and tourists.
The session was characterized by a sense of oneness and wellness, with participants performing yoga asanas among the bustling energy of Times Square. The CGI posted images of the event on social media, highlighting the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” and presenting the celebration as a sign of wellness and community.
The celebrations went beyond New York, with the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC hosting a yoga session at the Lincoln Memorial. This event, conducted ahead of International Day of Yoga on June 21, had a large turnout from both the Indian diaspora and local locals, demonstrating yoga’s expanding global popularity. Vinay Mohan Kwatra, India’s Ambassador to the United States, addressed the crowd, describing it as a joyful celebration of India’s old civilizational legacy and expressing gratitude for the large turnout.
Yoga instructors at these gatherings stressed the underlying aim of yoga, which extends beyond physical fitness to include mental health and spiritual growth. Acharya Govind Brahmachari emphasized the importance of yoga in achieving a sense of liberation and oneness with the cosmos, as well as improving emotional wellness.
Participants, including Dr. Smita Patel, applauded the program, citing yoga’s benefits for reducing anxiety, increasing mood, and improving children’s concentration and focus. Acharya Madhuvartanand Avdhut expounded on yoga’s multifaceted approach to healthy living, as well as its ability to promote global peace and unity.
CGI New York’s International Yoga Day 2025 celebrations in Westchester and Times Square, as well as companion activities in Washington, DC, demonstrated yoga’s global resonance and ability to bring communities together in the quest of health, peace, and overall well-being.
