Marking first International Yoga day: Modi, Rajnath Singh to do yoga together at Rajpath

Yoga has always been an integral part of  Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life.

His call for a day dedicated to the celebration of yoga during his address at the UNESCO headquarters, lead to United Nations declaring 21 June as International Day of Yoga. The proposal was passed within a record time of 75 days with 177 countries becoming co-sponsors, much to the elation of Modi.

File photo of PM Modi at United Nations. Reuters

Now, it seems that Modi will himself lead the celebration for the first ever International Day of Yoga from the front.

The prime minister is expected to perform yoga along with some Cabinet ministers, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh. to mark the first  International Day of Yoga, according to a report by The Indian Express. Giant LED screens are also expected to be put up at Rajpath to focus on the Modi's yoga event.

The Home Ministry is busy making security arrangements for the event as several VVIPS will be present in Delhi for the event, said the Express report.

Modi has always spoken about the benefits of yoga. "Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfillment, harmony between man and nature, a holistic approach to health and well-being," he had said at the UN last year.

"Yoga awakens a sense of oneness and harmony with self, society and Nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change and create a more balanced world," he added.

This isn't the first time that Modi has sought to celebrate International Day of Yoga by involving various organisations.

Earlier this year, he had asked the National Cadet Corps to try and create a world record by doing yoga across the country at the same time on the International Day of Yoga. "It is a special responsibility of India, where yog was born, to introduce the world to right yog," he had said while addressing Addressing NCC cadets in Delhi.

Last year, AYUSH, the nodal agency for Ayurveda and other alternative medicines was urged to start a pilot of yoga modules for policemen, which would later be worked out for other government officials.