The first United Nations International Yoga Day is being marked tomorrow, June 21, across India. The run-up to the day has been unprecedented in scale. The nation holds its breath (pun intended), as yoga readies for its Kodak moments. While the world and India of course, as originator of this art celebrates the day dedicated to what has become a global phenomenon, one has to look at how adeptly and widely this day is being marketed.

In a world where hype and hoopla range and where social media is a catalyst for the widest publicity, yoga ironically, an age-old philosophy science and exercise for the body, is riding the hi-tech wave. There are a slew of programmes to be held all across the city. The capital, Delhi, is ready with a massive yoga session where the city will become a sea of colourful yoga mats. Excitement is at an all time high and though the Mumbai downpour looks to have put a bit of a dampener on things, it is still the world is gaga about yoga. Certain institutions have been celebrating yoga through the week beginning Monday, with symposiums, meetings and seminars in a run-up to the day.