Sat Jun 21 17:10:31 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The article reports on the widespread celebration of the International Day of Yoga across China on June 21, 2025. Thousands participated in yoga events in various cities, highlighting the increasing popularity of the Indian wellness tradition. Events were organized by the Indian Embassy and Consulates in China, with participation from UN officials and local organizations. Despite ongoing tensions in bilateral relations, the cultural outreach through yoga continues to resonate with the Chinese public. The article emphasizes the role of yoga in promoting health, harmony, and cultural exchange between India and China, especially as they cautiously rebuild diplomatic engagement.

**News Article:**

**Yoga’s Popularity Soars in China as International Day Celebrated**

**Beijing, June 21, 2025** – Thousands across China embraced the ancient Indian tradition of yoga today, participating in various events to mark International Day of Yoga. From Beijing to Shanghai and beyond, citizens rolled out their mats, demonstrating the growing appeal of yoga despite recent tensions in India-China relations.

In Beijing, the Indian Ambassador to China, Pradeep Kumar Rawat, joined hundreds of Chinese yoga practitioners at the old Indian Embassy complex for a two-hour celebration that included a yoga competition. The event proved so popular that the embassy had to close registrations after receiving over 1,500 sign-ups.

Shanghai saw similar enthusiasm, with the Indian Consulate organizing celebrations where Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, served as Chief Guest. Mr. Chatterjee, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to globalize yoga, emphasized its role in fostering a more connected world.

“As a yoga practitioner, I deeply value its transformative power to foster resilience and peace,” Mr. Chatterjee stated. “This event reflects the shared commitment of India and the United Nations to promote health and harmony, strengthening bonds between nations.”

The Shanghai event capped off a series of celebrations across Eastern China, including Hangzhou, Wuxi, and Suzhou, in collaboration with Indian diaspora organizations, multinational corporations, and Buddhist monasteries. Consul General of India in Shanghai Pratik Mathur underscored the relevance of yoga in promoting harmony, particularly during the 75th year of diplomatic relations between India and China.

These events highlight the enduring cultural connection between the two nations, even as they cautiously rebuild diplomatic ties following a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping last year. While border standoffs persist, the resonance of yoga and Indian heritage with the Chinese public remains strong. Yoga was officially recognized in China as a form of physical fitness sport after the UN’s 2014 adoption of Prime Minister Modi’s proposal for International Day of Yoga. Today’s celebrations across China underscore its continued popularity and acceptance.

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