The High Commission of India on Saturday hosted over 2,500 people to mark the International Day of Yoga 2025 in Nairobi.
The event held under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” brought together participants from the Diplomatic Corps, representatives from the Kenyan government, media professionals, and yoga practitioners from different parts of the country. Tourism CS Rebecca Miano graced the event at the Sikh Union Club Grounds in Nairobi.
It was a culmination of a series of events the mission organised throughout the week in Magadi, Kitengela, and the Masai Mara to celebrate yoga as a universal practice for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
In the lead-up to the Saturday event, a special yoga session was organized on Friday at the United Nations Office in Nairobi. The session saw participation from UN staff, diplomatic missions, local yoga enthusiasts, and officials of the High Commission and their families.
“The theme for IDY 2025, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” encapsulates India’s vision of global well-being and environmental harmony…The gathering reflected the increasing global resonance of yoga and the strong cultural ties between India and Kenya,” the High Commission said.
The events, the High Commission said, underscored the inclusive and participatory nature of the initiative.
Additional events are scheduled to be held in Nakuru, Kisumu, and Taita Taveta counties.
CS Miano, who was the chief guest, remarked that the International Day of Yoga remains symbolic and of great significance, as Kenya moves to a wellness tourism hub.
“Kenya’s wellness tourism strategy aligns perfectly with the growing demand for nature-based and transformative experiences. We are keen to combine luxury, adventure, and well-being to offer a holistic approach to tourism that caters to travellers seeking to nurture both their physical health and their mental well-being,” Miano said.
The commemoration of International Day of Yoga stems from a United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted on December 11, 2014, co-sponsored by 177 countries, including Kenya.
The resolution declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga and since then, the day has been commemorated annually across the globe.
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the occasion to call for global peace as tensions and wars escalate in different parts of the world.
In his global message, PM Modi described yoga as an exercise that brings peace to mind, and that the day ought to mark the beginning of Yoga for collaborative ventures for humanity “where inner peace becomes global policy”.
“Unfortunately, today the entire world is going through some tension, unrest, and instability have been increasing in many regions. In such times, yoga gives us the direction of peace. It is the pause button that humanity needs to breathe, balance, and become whole again,” PM Modi said.
