UNITED NATIONS, Dec 7: India has co-sponsored a draft resolution at the UN General Assembly, which was unanimously approved, establishing December 21 as World Meditation Day.
India, in collaboration with Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mexico, and Andorra, played a pivotal role in the core group that steered the unanimous adoption of the resolution titled ‘World Meditation Day’ within the 193-member UN General Assembly on Friday.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, expressed his satisfaction on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “A day for comprehensive well-being and inner transformation! Happy that India, alongside other nations in the core group, has facilitated the unanimous adoption of the World Meditation Day declaration at the @UN General Assembly today (Friday).”
He emphasized that India’s leadership in promoting overall human well-being is rooted in the concept of #VasudhaivaKutumbakam – viewing the world as one family.
Ambassador Harish pointed out that December 21 coincides with the Winter Solstice, which marks the beginning of “Uttarayana” in Indian tradition, recognized as a favorable time for introspection and meditation.
This date also falls exactly six months after the International Day of Yoga, observed on June 21 during the Summer Solstice.
He noted that since India spearheaded the declaration of June 21 as International Day of Yoga in 2014, it has evolved into a worldwide movement, encouraging people globally to incorporate yoga into their daily routines.
A press release from the Permanent Mission of India to the UN highlighted that India’s key role in the resolution’s adoption reflects its unwavering commitment to human well-being and global leadership in this realm, aligned with the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
The establishment of World Meditation Day comes amid ongoing conflicts and rising tensions across different regions globally, according to the mission.
It reiterated that meditation, deeply rooted in ancient practices, serves as an effective means for achieving inner transformation and peace in contemporary society.
The initiative aims to promote holistic human well-being encompassing mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects, assisting individuals in managing modern challenges such as increased anxiety and stress, while fostering harmony between mind and body, and humans with nature.
“Modern science recognizes the myriad benefits of meditation and its significant effect on our lives. Research has shown that consistent meditation notably reduces stress and boosts cognitive and physical capabilities,” the Indian mission added.
The resolution, introduced by Liechtenstein, also received support from Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Burundi, the Dominican Republic, Iceland, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Portugal, and Slovenia. (PTI)
