Is International Yoga Day Problematic?
Each year on June 21st, people worldwide celebrate International Yoga Day. Social media lights up with photos of yoga poses and inspirational quotes, and large groups gather to meditate in public spaces. However, this celebration can have a troubling side that many might not be aware of.
The idea for International Yoga Day came from India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who introduced it at the United Nations in 2014. He presented yoga as a gift from India’s ancient traditions, promoting unity, harmony, and well-being.
While this seems positive on the surface, there’s a deeper issue tied to the current political climate in India. Under Modi’s leadership, there has been a rise in intolerance and violence, especially against religious minorities and lower caste communities. This darker reality contrasts sharply with the peaceful and inclusive image of yoga.
In India, there have been numerous incidents of mob violence and vigilantism, often targeting Muslims and Dalits. These actions are carried out by groups claiming to protect traditional values, yet they perpetrate significant harm and division. Even cows have been attacked because of their symbolism and status to many Indians. This context is essential to understand when we participate in global yoga celebrations.
By celebrating International Yoga Day without acknowledging these issues, we risk whitewashing the reality of what’s happening in India. Doing a yoga pose and sharing it online might seem like a harmless, even positive act.
However, it can inadvertently support a political regime that uses yoga’s positive image to mask serious human rights abuses.
It has been compared to imagining that a western government declared an international children’s day but then ignored the fact that they are thousands of children suffering in immigration camps and living in poverty in the wealthiest countries – and just focusing on seemingly positive photo opportunities and gaslighting the parts of reality that don’t suit the narrative.
Toxic positivity at its finest?
Yoga, at its core, is about to self-awareness. It’s important to recognize and address the power imbalances and oppression that can be hidden behind its global popularity.