The UN Postal Administration (UNPA) is issuing 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 M.S. 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,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
The UN postal agency, UN Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue the new special event sheet to commemorate Yoga Day that has been marked annually since 2015. The special sheet consists of stamps with images of the sacred Indian sound “Om” and various yogic asanas.
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.
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 June 21.
United Nations stamps are issued simultaneously at UN offices in New York, Geneva and Vienna. Each issue carries a related design theme, with different denominations for each office. Usually six new commemorative issues are released each year and remain on sale for 12 months only. UN stamps have illustrated the aims and achievements of the United Nations and its family of organisations, the UNPA website said. The United Nations will issue special stamps commemorating the International Yoga Day on June 21 this year.
