As the world prepares to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2025, we find ourselves reflecting not only on a decade of this remarkable global observance, but on the deeper meaning and responsibility it carries for us in Mauritius and India. Since its inception in 2015, after the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted India’s proposal, and with Mauritius as one of the earliest co-sponsors, this day has grown from an idea into a global movement. Across continents and cultures, millions have come together on this day to celebrate an ancient practice that remains deeply relevant to modern life.
But for Mauritius, Yoga is not just another international observance. It is a living heritage, a part of the spiritual and cultural legacy that binds it with its roots and with Indian civilization. And it is a tool with immense potential to address some of mankind’s most pressing challenges such as health, wellness, mental resilience, and social harmony.
Mauritius’s Early and Enduring Commitment
When the resolution for International Day of Yoga was brought before the UN General Assembly by India in December 2014, Mauritius and other like-minded nations supported this unprecedented initiative to present Yoga as a gift from an ancient civilization to the modern world. Every year since 2015, Mauritius has embraced 21st June with enthusiasm and purpose. Whether it is Yoga sessions on the beaches of Flic-en-Flac or hundreds of our exuberant yoga students at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture, the images are the same – Mauritians from all walks of life coming together in collective wellbeing!
Yoga has transcended barriers; it unites people across generations, backgrounds, and beliefs. That, in itself, is a quiet revolution – and a powerful affirmation of the inclusive values that our two countries share.
A Healing Science for Today’s Health Challenges
Mauritius, like many countries, is grappling with a rise in non-communicable diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. Scientific research confirms what ancient wisdom long knew: Yoga helps. Whether it is praṇayama (breath control) that reduces stress hormones, or asanas (postures) that strengthen the body and improve flexibility, Yoga provides sustainable, low-cost solutions for both prevention and recovery.
Moreover, its benefits are not just physical. In an age marked by mental fatigue, academic stress, digital distractions, and workplace pressure, Yoga offers calm, clarity, and inner strength. In schools and universities across Mauritius, the rising popularity of Yoga classes is equipping young minds with tools for resilience, focus, and empathy.
Yoga as a Pillar of Economic and Social Progress
The growing integration of Yoga into Mauritius’s wellness and tourism sectors is creating new opportunities. Yoga retreats, Ayurvedic healing centres, and certified training programmes now attract visitors from Europe, Africa, and Asia alike. This form of wellness tourism aligns naturally with Mauritius’s reputation for serenity and natural beauty. It also provides a platform for local entrepreneurship and skilled employment especially for those trained in Yoga instruction, therapy, and holistic care.
A Shared Responsibility Rooted in Shared History
India and Mauritius are bound not just by friendship, but by a civilizational continuum. The first waves of indentured labourers brought with them not only physical resilience but also treasures from our cultural heritage, among them Yoga, Ayurveda, and the philosophical tenets that underlie them. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated at the United Nations in 2014:
“Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment.”
These words remind us that Yoga is not merely a wellness practice but it is also an ethical framework. Its principles of ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), and saucha (purity) offer pathways for inner peace and planetary harmony, the ideals which are needed now more than ever as we face global challenges of climate change, social fragmentation, and mental health.
The Road Ahead: A Renewed Mandate
As we step into the second decade of the International Day of Yoga, India and Mauritius must lead by example. Our shared civilizational responsibility calls for new initiatives that democratize access and amplify impact. We must invest in training more Yoga instructors across the island, particularly in rural and coastal areas. Scholarships, exchanges and workshops under India-Mauritius partnerships can support this goal. Schools and universities can embed Yoga more deeply into physical education and wellness studies, ensuring that future professionals—teachers, doctors, leaders—understand its science and philosophy. Social Media apps and online platforms in multiple languages can make Yoga more accessible to different age groups and health needs, even in remote locations.
India and Mauritius can collaborate on clinical and behavioural research to validate the efficacy of Yoga for non-communicable diseases and mental wellbeing contributing to evidence-based global health policy.
On 21 June 2024, Prime Minister Modi reminded the world that “Yoga is not merely exercise; it is a way of life. It teaches us to be in harmony with ourselves, with nature and with each other.” Let this be our collective mantra. Let the true success of Yoga not be measured only in spectacular displays but in daily discipline, in the quieter moments when we breathe consciously, stretch with awareness, or sit in stillness.
To every Mauritian reading this whether you are a lifelong practitioner or a curious beginner, I invite you to take just 30 minutes a day for your health, clarity, and peace of mind and make Yoga a part of your everyday life. India and Mauritius have long stood together in diplomacy, in commerce, in culture. Let us now stand together as custodians of Yoga, ensuring that its transformative power reaches every home, every school, and every soul.
Jai Yoga. Jai Mauritius. Jai Hind.
