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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday greeted people on International Yoga Day, asking for a pledge to make it an integral part of life. [caption id=“attachment_2305010” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] PM Narendra Modi performed yoga along with around 37,000 participants at Rajpath, Delhi.[/caption] Minutes before the mega event commenced at Rajpath, the Prime Minister tweeted, “Greetings to people around the world on first International Day of Yoga! “Lets pledge to make yoga an integral part of our daily lives,” he said. In another tweet, he said in some parts of the world, the first rays of the sun have already been welcomed by people practising yoga. This will continue across the world. “I will join the yoga day programme at Rajpath in a short while,” Modi said. The Prime Minister, who practised ‘asanas’ along with nearly 35,000 participants during a mega event at Rajpath in New Delhi, also thanked the United Nations and the countries which backed the resolution by India to mark 21 June as International Yoga Day. The Prime Minister, who was expected to only address the gathering, surprised everyone by participating in the yoga exercises along with thousands of people, including children. Yoga guru Ramdev shared the dais with Modi along with heads of some other religious and yoga institutions. Modi later joined the participants on the ground as he practised the ‘asanas’ during the 30-minute programme. Kicking off the event, the Prime Minister said the programme is aimed at benefiting the people by making them both physically and mentally healthy. It seeks to make a tension-free world and spread the message of ‘Sadbhavana’ (harmony), the Prime Minister said, adding that yoga is “more than only physical fitness”. “For most of the people, yoga is just a physical exercise. This is the biggest mistake…. Had this been the case, children working in circuses could have been called ‘yogis’. Hence yoga is not only about making the body flexible,” he said, while addressing the participants. The Prime Minister expressed hope that the atmosphere built in favour of yoga in the country will continue in future as well. He also said that it is not important for him where this ancient technique originated and where all it has reached. “We are not only celebrating a day but we are training the human mind to begin a new era of peace - Sadbhavana…This is a programme for the benefit of mankind, a tension-free world and a programme to spread the message of Sadbhavana,” Modi said. Modi, while addressing the crowd at Rajpath, said, “Did anyone ever imagine that Rajpath can be a ‘Yoga-path’?” The Prime Minister also said that this was the beginning of a new era. “I bow down to the sages who encouraged Yoga through centuries,” he said. “Everything is moving forward. We don’t want a situation where humans are lagging behind.” He also said that yoga was much more than just physical exercise. “Just making a body flexible, turning body into shapes is not Yoga. Otherwise, everyone in a circus would be a yogi…Mann (heart), buddhi (mind), shareer (body) and aatma (spirit) have to be in sync,” he said. Diplomats from 152 foreign missions were invited to take part in the event which started at 7 am. Apart from PM Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh was also seen practising yoga with the participants. President Pranab Mukherjee also addressed the people practising yoga and said, “I wish that everyone finds peace and happiness through yoga.” Even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took part in the practising yoga. He also said that yoga is not something to be politicised. “Yoga is very essential, but it isn’t something to do politics over,” he said. Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung, who has been involved in a political row with Kejriwal, was also seen doing yoga along with the others. However, alleging that yoga was being privatised by BJP, the East Singhbhum District Congress Committee has decided to organise a ‘Walk for Nation and Society’ in Jamshedpur on Sunday to coincide with International Yoga Day. Congress members and supporters will assemble at Jubilee Park gate on Sunday morning and take part in the walk, said district Congress (DCC) president Vijay Khan. (With inputs from PTI)
Live: Yoga Day is a result of the largest people's movement ever, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday greeted people on International Yoga Day, asking for a pledge to make it an integral part of life.
 "Live: Yoga Day is a result of the largest people's movement ever, says PM Modi")
Yoga shouldn’t be used by any party to further its ideology: Congress
Congress lashed out at the Modi government and said that yoga should not be used by a party to further its ideology. “It is unfortunate that yoga should be used as a party to further its ideology. That goes against the very spirit of yoga,” Congress leader RPN Singh told ANI. “Yoga has been practised in this country for centuries.”
Yoga has been practiced in this country for centuries: RPN Singh, Cong on #InternationalDayofYoga pic.twitter.com/fDQ2j172qJ
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
Yoga a way to read ‘user manual’ given by the Almighty: PM Modi
On a lighter note, the Prime Minister also said that people often buy mobile phones but never read the user manuals given along with them. “Similarly, even we don’t know what the Almighty has given us. We have not read the user manual given to us by the Almighty,” he said, adding that yoga was a way to read that “user manual”.
He also warned against making yoga a commodity. “If we make yoga a commodity, we will suffer the most. Yoga is not a commodity…We should ensure that a day never comes when some people say that their yoga is better than the others.”
“Even though yoga has been spread by India and the world needs to give India its due recognition, yoga is not ours. It belongs to the entire world,” said PM Modi.
International Yoga Day a result of largest knowledge-based people’s movement: Modi
The Prime Minister also stressed on the benefits of yoga to the environment. “Global warming threatens the world as we know it. Ecology is being threatened by human greed and excesses. Yoga shows the way to consumption that is balanced and in tune with nature,” he said.
“We will need to raise a generation that lives according to this balance,” he said.
“The spread of yoga is a symbol of a changing world…Yoga is now a universal culture. It represents a world where knowledge grows without restrictions or boundaries…It is important to maintain an open world free of discrimination,” he said.
Modi also said that the Yoga Day was the result of the largest people’s movement. “International Yoga Day is not a brainchild of any government or the United Nations.. It is the result of the largest knowledge-based people’s movement,” he said.
Yoga leads to reduction in violence, greed, coercion, promises balance and peace: Modi
“Yoga awakens the deeper sense of unity and oneness with the whole universe and all living beings. This leads to the realisation of our highest divinity,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“It leads to reduction of greed, coercion and violence. It will cause an enormous reduction in cost of healthcare and need for social support…It leads to increased teamwork in business and communities,” Modi said.
“To sum up, in a world of excesses, yoga promises restrain and balance,” he said. “Against the problem of mental stress, yoga promises calm. Against a destructive world, yoga promises focus and concentration. Against fear, yoga promises strength and courage.”
“A disciplined mind is a must for a world without fear…We live in a world which is divided over material gains and a failure to understand each other. How will be understand each other if we don’t undertand ourselves?” Modi said.
“Doctrines and dogmas are but secondary details,” he said.
Yoga creates a beautiful temple of the body for the mind: Modi
“It is said that yoga transforms lives. Yoga jeevan ko ji bhar ke jeene ki jari-booti hai. (Yoga is a way to truly and fully live one’s life.) In order to understand yoga in its entirety, we must understand who a yogi is,” said Modi.
“A yogi is someone who is in harmony with his body, surrounding and nature. Yoga is a means to acheive that harmony,” said the PM. He also referred to the Bhagvad Gita as a “call to action” which encourages the practice of yoga.
“People suffer from stress-related problems and diseases like diabetes and hypertension. we have found ways to control communicable diseases but the burden is now shifting to non-communicable diseases,” Modi said, adding that yoga was a way to prevent non-communicable diseases.
“If the body is the temple of the mind, yoga creates a breautiful temple. Yoga leads to perfection of a body’s potential,” he said. “Yoga teaches a person how to get closer to nature.”
“Yoga leads to full development of our mental powers leading to intelligence, creativity, liberation of our spitits, freedom and equality. It is an answer to all challenges of life,” Modi said.
Spread of yoga cuts across caste and creed: PM Modi
“In India this morning, millions of people participated in a simple yoga event at Rajpath and in their homes too,” said Prime Minister Modi. “This solidairy in yoga, this coming together with our brothers and sisters in our countries, brings our hearets and minds closer.”
Modi also announced the release of postage stamps on yoga for the occassion.
“I am grateful to the international communtiy. This support is not just for India, but for the great tradition of yoga, a sense of oneness with each other and nature,” Modi said.
“Reach and spread of yoga cuts across difference of colour, caste and creed…there are communities of yoga practitioners in almost every country in the world…Yoga has spread harmony between man and nature,” said the PM.
Recognition of Yoga Day a big event in the history of UN: PM Modi
“Little did I know the kind of response our proposal will receive,” said PM Modi at International Conference on Yoga for Holistic Health in New Delhi.
“The community of nations responded at once. On 11 December 2014, the 193 member-UN General Assembly approved the proposal by consensus with a record 177 co-sponsoring countries. This was a big event in the history of the UN,” said PM Modi.
“As I stand here today, the International Day of Yoga is being celebrated across the world. Millions of poeople arpound the world are participating. From sun-rise in the far east to sunset in the western hemisphere, people will join in this great celebration of yoga today.”
Yoga Day event at Rajpath likely to set world record
Terming the participation of thousands of people during the first International Yoga Day at Rajpath as “overwhelming”, a representative of Guinness Book of World Records hoped that the event will set a world record.
The mega event witnessed participation of more than 35,000 people including school children, NCC cadets, army personnel and officials. – PTI
Achche din guaranteed for people practising yoga, says Ramdev
Yoga guru Ramdev praised PM Modi for International Yoga Day celebrations and said that the acknowledgement of yoga by the world was a huge contribution by the PM to humanity.
“Many people are asking why Modiji has now become involved in yoga when he promised to bring achche din. But Modiji has brought about achche din in politics. And for those doing yoga, achche din are guaranteed,” Ramdev said.
PM Modi attends conference on yoga
Delhi: PM Narendra Modi at International Conference on Yoga for Holistic Health #InternationalDayofYoga pic.twitter.com/FZoUHBoRHT
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
#InternationalDayofYoga top trend on Twitter
#InternationalDayofYoga so are u joined the greatest moment ? Proud to be human !! So the record is created ! pic.twitter.com/Az3BhokTxw
— råvï_hēēñāfc (@AnarkaliSalimfc) June 21, 2015
#InternationalDayofYoga A Sea of Humanity with poise and grace for Peace. On Rajpath. #IncredibleIndia pic.twitter.com/Epnd9a7UXK
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) June 21, 2015
Yoga Day celebrations will be largest public preventable health activity, says Health Minister JP Nadda
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said that practising yoga is a way of life and it should not be seen as merely a health activity.
Participating in the first International Yoga Day celebrations at Sanjeevaiah Park in Hyderabad, Nadda said this may be a world record wherein millions of people have participated and are performing yoga across the world.
“It will be the largest public preventable health activity in the world as millions of people are going to join in the program. It is not proper if you consider yoga just a health activity, but it is a way of life,” Nadda said. – PTI
35 asanas performed in 35 minutes
Participants performed 35 yoga asanas in 35 minutes at the Rajpath session to mark the International Yoga Day, officials said.
The yoga session included exercises, pranayam (a breathing technique) and mediation lasted about 35 minutes, according to yoga protocol finalsed by the Ayush ministry.
The mass yoga event began with a prayer and body loosening exercises.
Among the asanas performed were tadasana (palm tree posture), vakrasana (tree posture), bhadrasana (firm posture) and bhujangasana (cobra posture).
Yoga connects society, cannot be bound to a religion: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said yoga was India’s biggest gift to the world and it cannot be tied to a particular religion, caste or sect.
“Today not only in India, but in the entire world, Yoga and Ayurveda are being practiced which are integral parts of the country’s culture,” Rajnath said while addressing a mass yoga session on the first International Yoga Day at KD Singh Babu stadium.
“It connects the society and cannot be bound down to a particular religion, caste or sect,” he said.
“It is the biggest gift from India to the world. Either it was Buddhism, which spread in the entire world or its yoga which has been accepted by 191 countries in the world,” he said. – PTI
Pak should re-think: Ravi Shankar Prasad on Yoga Day not being celebrated in Pakistan
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad reacted to the fact that Yoga Day was not celebrated in Pakistan and said, “It is very important to know that 190 countries agreed that yoga is important for mankind and out of those 190 countries, nearly 44 were Islamic countries. You can see that yoga is taking place in New York, China, London also.”
Prasad further said, “Pakistan too had said that it will talk about yoga in their country but it stopped it all of a sudden. I would request them to rethink as we feel that yoga would help them bring in peace there in their country too,” Prasad said, addressing the yoga participants during the celebrations of ‘International Yoga day’ at Sports Authority Of India (SAI) complex in Kolkata.
“Our government want good relations with Pakistan. They had not done it it is their matter but it would have been better if they had done it,” he told reporters later.
International Yoga Day celebrated across the world
An open field at a local university in Thailand turned into a “yoga studio” as thousands of Thais, Indians and other expatriates gathered in Bangkok to celebrate the first International Yoga Day.
The event was grandly celebrated across the ASEAN nations, including Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Singapore.
Yoga Day was also celebrated in US, China, New Zealand and Australia, according to reports.
#InternationalDayofYoga being celebrated in Brisbane (Queensland, Australia) pic.twitter.com/T7Nuq2qQNG
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
CMs across India take part in yoga
The first International Yoga Day was celebrated in Bhopal with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan leading a large number of students and others in a yoga session at the Lal Parade Ground.
On the other hand, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took part in yoga in Nagpur.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis takes part in #InternationalDayofYoga pic.twitter.com/H4nWBjlQjR
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
Bihar: Manjhi takes part in yoga along with Amit Shah, Nitish practises yoga privately at his residence
Even as former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi and Amit Shah practised yoga in front of the media in Patna, the current Bihar CM Nitish Kumar stayed away from the media and practised yoga at his residence.
“CM saheb did his normal session of yoga at residence in the morning,” Kumar’s private assistant at his 7 Circular road residence said.
Jitan Ram Manjhi takes part in #InternationalDayofYoga pic.twitter.com/sL4B0wNki4
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was in New York to participate in the Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations. Indian Missions abroad were also organising special programmes for the day.
In his welcome address, Minister of AYUSH, Shripad Naik said that the world is embracing Yoga in a big way.
The United Nations had in December last year declared 21 June as International Yoga Day, with 177 countries voting in favour. – PTI
Security forces across India practise yoga
CRPF personnel in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir took part in a yoga session on International Yoga Day. Security personnel on the INS Virat also celebrated Yoga Day.
#InternationalDayofYoga being celebrated on INS Viraat pic.twitter.com/HVoKRnycW3
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
Bollywood joins the yoga celebrations
Bollywood actress & fitness enthusiast Shilpa Shetty takes part in #InternationalDayofYoga pic.twitter.com/FZAYZz2EQv
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
Very excited about Yoga Day: UN Secretary General tells Sushma Swaraj
UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has expressed his excitement at the first International Day of Yoga during his meeting with External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, saying the day has garnered “unprecedented” enthusiasm from people around the world.
Ban called on Swaraj in the evening here on Saturday at the Manhattan hotel where the Indian leader is staying. He warmly greeted her with a “Namaste, kya haal chaal hain” as he shook her hands.
Ban, accompanied by senior UN officials, congratulated Swaraj on the commemoration of the first International Day of Yoga.
“I am also very much excited,” he said. “(There is) a lot of enthusiasm. We have been observing many international days on something but this one (yoga day) is unprecedented, most exciting,” he said.
Ban said he had been told that nearly two billion people would have participated in the yoga day across the world by the end of June 21. – PTI
BJP leaders across India take part in yoga
After PM Modi’s yoga session in Delhi, BJP leaders across India took part in yoga in various states. HRD Minister Smriti Irani participated in yoga in Shimla while Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar also took part in yoga.
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also took part in the yoga session in Kolkata.
Union Minister Smriti Irani takes part in #InternationalDayofYoga in Shimla pic.twitter.com/hrHDN8FWod
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
Despite heavy rains, Mumbaikars take part in yoga session
People in Mumbai took part in a yoga session at Marine Drive along with BJP leaders Piyush Goyal and Shaina NC. “The power that yoga has towards strengthening body and mind is incomparable,” said Piyush Goyal.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal takes part in #InternationalDayofYoga in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/68nLT9DzVF
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
Yoga session ends
As the massive yoga session led by PM Modi got over, Modi interacted with the children present at Rajpath.
In a record-breaking attempt, an estimated 37,000 people took part in a yoga session at Rajpath. The Guinness record is currently held by Vivekananda Kendra which organised a yoga event in which 29,973 people participated in Gwalior on 19 November, 2005.
Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje practises yoga
Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje takes part in #InternationalDayofYoga pic.twitter.com/bJ9PWlwmWH
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
PM Modi takes part in yoga along with 35,000 other participants
PM Narendra Modi takes part in #InternationalDayofYoga pic.twitter.com/C0VBYhf98B
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
An aerial view of Rajpath as citizens celebrate #InternationalDayofYoga pic.twitter.com/yw2taIpMOM
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2015
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