NEW YORK, December 20 (ANI): The Permanent Mission of India, along with several partner countries, marked the second World Meditation Day at the United Nations Headquarters on Friday with a high-level event focused on inner peace and global harmony, according to a press statement.
The programme was organised by the Permanent Mission of India in collaboration with the missions of Andorra, Mexico, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, which together form the core group behind the World Meditation Day initiative. The event was held at the Trusteeship Council Chamber and drew participation from diplomats, experts, spiritual leaders, and members of civil society.
Renowned spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar delivered the keynote address and led the audience through a guided meditation session.
Several speakers highlighted the importance of meditation in daily life and its growing relevance in today’s fast-changing world. Yogmata Keiko Aikawa and Sister BK Gayatri of the Brahma Kumaris organisation shared their experiences of practising meditation and promoting it globally. LP Bhanu Sharma, co-founder of Nepal’s Jeevan Vigyan Foundation, spoke about initiatives aimed at providing practical education in yoga and meditation.
Academics and scientists also addressed the gathering. Lasantha Chandana Goonetilleke of Rutgers University and John Hagelin, a physicist and International President of the Global Union of Scientists for Peace, discussed meditation as a tool to enhance humanity’s capacity to address contemporary challenges.
The event was attended by nearly 700 people, reflecting growing global interest in meditation and mental well-being.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Harish Parvathaneni, underscored India’s civilizational understanding that transforming oneself at a fundamental level can lead to transformation in the external world, and that inner peace fosters peace beyond the individual.
Permanent Representatives from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Andorra, along with a representative from Mexico, also spoke at the event. These countries were part of the core group that collaborated to finalise the UN resolution on World Meditation Day.
World Meditation Day was officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly on December 6, 2024, through Resolution A/RES/79/137. The resolution was adopted unanimously, recognising meditation as a practice that promotes well-being, peace, and harmony. December 21 is now observed annually as World Meditation Day.
The first World Meditation Day was celebrated at the United Nations Headquarters on December 21, 2024. The second edition continued the focus on promoting mindfulness and inner balance as tools for addressing global challenges.
About The Author
