Since 2015, on June 21 every year, people across the world spill out on to the streets and strike a pose to mark International Yoga Day. As thousands of people put their best foot (and selfie face) forward, the internet is flooded with photographs of people in gravity-defying poses. Leading the pack on Thursday were politicians of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, followed by sundry celebrities and sportspersons. After all, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an enthusiastic proponent of the ancient practice and it was at his behest that the United Nations declared June 21 as the day to commemorate India’s most famous export.
As the many virtues of #yoga spilled out of ancient texts and onto social media platforms, amid the fitness goals and spiritual odes were jokes by cynics unimpressed by the charade. After all, if you can’t join them, poke fun at them.
Modern Day Yoga Poses#YogaDay #InternationalYogaDay pic.twitter.com/2d9zBA7d5R
— Akshar (@AksharPathak) June 21, 2016
Trying to apply Dermi Cool on the back.
— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) June 21, 2018
#InternationalDayofYoga2018 pic.twitter.com/CFtaVrTBM4
Deve Gowda on #WorldYogaDay is my new spirit animal. pic.twitter.com/7L0ZQN4kJn
— Sayantan Ghosh (@sayantansunnyg) June 21, 2018
I wanna learn yoga for black money. My favorite asan is Tax Ev-asan.
— Shikanji SelleRatty (@YearOfRat) October 29, 2014
As Delhi grapples with #AirPollution , 16500 trees are to be felled in for 'redeveloping' Central Government accommodation. No wonder @PMOIndia chose Dehradun as the venue for #WorldYogaDay celebrations this year!https://t.co/eznXPHAKzt pic.twitter.com/mTYdclyZ9h
— Rohan Chakravarty (@thetoonguy) June 21, 2018
For all those who don’t believe yoga can change your life, Baba Ramdev’s net worth as per Forbes is $2.5 billion.
— SwatKat- The dancing Rajput 💃 (@swatic12) June 21, 2018
Happy #InternationalYogaDay2018
#Yoga boss of the day. #YogaDay2018 #YogaDay pic.twitter.com/TOVCxiHkNk
— Smitha T K (@smitha_tarur) June 21, 2018
* June 21 - India declares #InternationalYogaDay Entire world does yoga.
— Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) June 21, 2018
* June 22 - Entire world wakes up with bodyache after doing yoga for the 1st time.
* June 23 - Thailand declares #InternationalMassageDay
By looking at the physique and bodies of all Modi ministers doing Yoga, one thing is clear that they do Yoga only on June 21!
— Dhiraj (@AAPlogical) June 21, 2018
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL 'breeeaaaatthhheeee,stttraaaigghhttteeen the leggggsss, no no not like that.....wait where are you going? You can't just give up halfway! What do you mean 'screw downward dog?' I'm charging you for this lesson!' DAY. #InternationalYogaDay2018
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) June 21, 2018
How did we miss such a big yoga reference in #Deadpool2? #InternationalYogaDay @VancityReynolds pic.twitter.com/qBP2w14NZV
— Harshal Kallyanpur (@harshalkpr) June 21, 2018
Modi’s video from last week, when he uploaded a montage of his morning exercise ritual in responses to a fitness challenge from cricketer Virat Kohli, provided fresh fodder for humour.
Wish you all a very happy and active Yoga Day. Here are some pics to inspire you. 😊 #InternationalYogaDay2018 pic.twitter.com/EgYy2yAr3h
— Mark idhar hai ツ (@RoflTeja) June 21, 2018