The former Brazilian President’s participation signals yoga’s rise as a tool of global diplomacy, unity, and India’s soft power.
The Consulate General of India in Shanghai marked a vibrant start to the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 celebrations with a high-profile curtain-raiser event held on June 13, 2025. As the world prepares to celebrate yoga on June 21, this event highlighted yoga’s rising global appeal and India’s growing cultural influence.
Adding gravitas to the occasion was the presence of Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank (NDB) and former President of Brazil. Her participation not only underlined the diplomatic depth of the event but also reflected the increasing global recognition of yoga as a tool for health, harmony, and sustainability.
Dilma Rousseff Joins Yoga Day 2025 Curtain-Raiser in Shanghai
Held at the Indian Consulate in Shanghai, the event served as a prelude to the 11th International Day of Yoga, themed “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” The theme reflects the growing understanding of yoga as a practice that nurtures not only physical and mental well-being but also promotes ecological balance and global unity. Dilma Rousseff was seen engaging with Indian diplomatic representatives and receiving a commemorative memento—an image that became the event’s defining moment. In another striking visual, she is seen holding a white t-shirt with the IDY 2025 logo, symbolizing her endorsement of the initiative.
Dilma Rousseff, President of New Development Bank and former President of Brazil, joined the key International Day of Yoga 2025 curtain raiser event in Shanghai today, at Consulate General of India in Shanghai.
— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2025
(Pics: Consulate General of India in Shanghai/X) pic.twitter.com/rLDo48h0dW
Rousseff’s involvement adds symbolic weight, considering her leadership at the New Development Bank, headquartered in Shanghai. This aligns with India’s strategy of leveraging cultural diplomacy—especially yoga diplomacy—to enhance its soft power and international visibility. Her participation also connects to her recent engagements in China, including her April 2025 meeting with President Xi Jinping, reinforcing her active role in Shanghai’s diplomatic and multilateral community.
India’s Global Wellness Diplomacy Shines at IDY 2025 Shanghai Event
Beyond the formal moments, the event included group yoga sessions held in a spacious hall adorned with IDY banners, digital screens, and visual messages highlighting the “One Earth, One Health” theme. Dozens of participants, including Chinese citizens and international attendees, performed yoga asanas on colorful mats—visually emphasizing the unity and inclusivity yoga represents. This event is part of a larger tradition of International Day of Yoga celebrations held globally, an initiative that began in 2015 following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2014 UN address, which led to the unanimous declaration of June 21 as IDY.
From its spiritual roots in ancient India to global platforms like the UN, and now in modern metropolises like Shanghai, yoga has emerged as a universal language of peace, health, and cooperation. Events like these also mirror India’s civilizational legacy, going back to Swami Vivekananda’s appearance at the 1893 Parliament of Religions, and now rejuvenated through modern diplomacy. The event also mirrors similar Indian cultural diplomacy efforts in countries like Sri Lanka, showcasing how India uses yoga not just for health promotion, but also for strengthening bilateral and regional ties.
As IDY 2025 approaches, this Shanghai curtain-raiser exemplifies how yoga continues to serve as a bridge between cultures. The event showcased the synergy between India’s traditional knowledge systems and its role on the global stage—fostering wellness, environmental awareness, and international collaboration. With leaders like Dilma Rousseff participating, the message is clear: yoga is no longer just India’s gift to the world—it’s a shared global heritage.
