UN to issue 10 stamps of ''asanas'' on International Yoga Day

New York: The UN Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue a set of stamps showing 10 yoga asanas (poses) to commemorate the International Day of Yoga on June 21 in New York.

The 10 stamps of $1.15 denomination each depict a different yoga pose next to a large `Om` in Devanagri script.

The stamps are on a single sheet with a picture of the UN Secretariat building that has International Day of Yoga projected on it.

In 2016, the UNPA issued a stamp in honour of MS Subbalakshmi, the classical Carnatic music singer, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her 1966 concert at the UN.

The UN stamps can be used for posting letters and packages internationally from UN facilities in New York, Geneva, and Vienna.

However, the yoga stamps would be issued only in the US dollar denomination in New York.

Releasing soon.@unstamps Special Event sheet to commemorate International Day of Yoga.

Contact unpanyinquiries@un.org to book a copy. pic.twitter.com/jXgNJKu53d — Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) April 18, 2017

The first International Yoga Day was commemorated at the UN in 2015 with aplomb, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj leading the celebrations along with then UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.

 

Ban and his wife had joined hundreds of students and yoga practitioners to perform asanas and mediate under the guidance of Shankar during the yoga day celebrations.

In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution with a record number of 177 co-sponsoring member states to commemorate the International Day of Yoga every year on 21 June.

(With Agency inputs)