International Yoga Day Celebrations Set for Iconic US Landmarks

The 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) will be celebrated across several iconic venues in the United States this month, reflecting the growing global appeal of the ancient Indian practice and its role in promoting health and well-being .

Major events are scheduled at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Times Square in New York, and Navy Pier in Chicago, alongside celebrations in Hillsboro, Oregon, and the Shrinathji Haveli temple in Irvine, California. The Indian Embassy in Washington has invited yoga enthusiasts to participate in a mass yoga session at the Lincoln Memorial on June 19 as part of the lead-up to the global observance on June 21.

In New York, renowned yoga educator H.R. Nagendra , who has served as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's yoga mentor , will lead celebrations at Times Square. Ahead of the event, he will inaugurate a yoga and wellness retreat in Monticello focused on stress management, healthy aging, and holistic wellness.

The theme for this year's observance, "Yoga for Healthy Aging," highlights yoga's role in enhancing longevity, mobility, and preventive healthcare . Community groups and Indian missions across the United States are also organizing a series of yoga sessions and outreach programmes.

Since the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2014 proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, the annual event has evolved into a key pillar of India's global soft-power outreach . By promoting yoga as a universal practice that transcends cultural and national boundaries, India has successfully leveraged the tradition to strengthen people-to-people connections and project its cultural heritage on the world stage .

The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated in 2015 and now attracts millions of participants worldwide each year.