Sushma Swaraj unveils logo for International Yoga Day

NEW DELHI:  External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and minister of AYUSH, Shripad Naik, unveiled the logo for the International Yoga Day. India will observe its first Yoga Day on June 21 - the day was named by the United Nations last year following a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the UN general assembly.

"The resolution was passed within a record time of 75 days and was the first resolution in which 177 countries had become co-sponsors," Ms Swaraj said during her address, calling it a "world record". "Even to celebrate Nelson Mandela's birthday, 165 countries had become co-sponsors," she added.

India, she said, will try to ensure that the day is marked by all 193 member countries of the UN.

The logo, approved by the AYUSH - the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy -- reflects harmony and peace which is the essence of yoga.

In the logo, the folded hands symbolise yoga, the brown leaves symbolise the earth, the green leaves the nature, blue, fire, and the sun symbolises the source of energy and inspiration, reported news agency Press Trust of India, quoting an official.

The huge support for resolution in UN was seen as an affirmation of India's growing soft power and diplomatic strength.

Prior to it, in 2007, the UN had adopted India's resolution to observe October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, as the International Day of Non-Violence.