From Vishakhapatnam to Lal Chowk: India rolls out mats to mark Yoga Day celebrations
India marked the 11th International Day of Yoga by performing asanas in synchronised events across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebrations by showing his skills in the ancient discipline in Vishakhapatnam. As the world witnesses tensions and unrest, he said, ‘Yoga is the pause button that humanity needs to breathe, balance, and become whole again’
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From Kashmir’s Lal Chowk to Andhra Pradesh’s Vishakhapatnam, India marked the 11th International Day of Yoga on Saturday (June 21) with much fanfare and fervour. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebrations from Vishakhapatnam, saying yoga is the “pause button” the world needs amid unrest. PTI
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu joined PM Modi to take part in a yoga session in Visakhapatnam. Modi said yoga is a “direction of peace in a world which was going through tension, unrest, and instability.” He said at such times yoga is the "pause button that humanity needs to breathe, balance, and become whole again". PTI
People roll out their yoga mats at Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi. The flagship event of this year’s International Yoga Day was ‘Yoga Sangam’, a synchronised performance of yoga asanas at lakhs of locations across the country. It is touted to be one of the largest mass yoga events ever, with lakhs of institutions, organisations, and communities participating together. AFP
Activists of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) perform yoga on International Day of Yoga at the Ghanta Ghar in Lal Chowk, Srinagar, Kashmir. Several party workers, locals, and yoga enthusiasts performed asanas to mark the International Yoga Day at the city square, which holds political significance in the Kashmir Valley. AP
People take part in a yoga session at the Kanheri Caves on the outskirts of Mumbai. This year's theme is ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’. The world first began observing the International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2015. PM Modi's efforts led to the ancient Indian practice being recognised globally for its "holistic approach to health and well-being”. AFP
Besides the PM, other ministers and politicians also celebrated the 11th International Day of Yoga. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, with members of the Diplomatic Corps, participated in a yoga session at Nehru Park in New Delhi. Sharing pictures from the event, he wrote, reiterating PM Modi, that the yoga session was a "true reflection of Yoga for everyone, beyond boundaries, backgrounds, age or ability". X/@DrSJaishankar
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman performed asanas to observe the International Yoga Day at Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management in Faridabad. The event is celebrated on June 21 every year as it marks the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, making it the longest day of the year. X/@nsitharamanoffc
People take part in a yoga session at the Purana Qila complex in New Delhi. Since 2015, PM Modi has led the Yoga Day celebrations across Indian cities. Under him, yoga has become one of India's biggest exports. Millions of people around the world have taken to the Indian practice to stay healthy, physically and mentally. PTI
Police personnel perform yoga asanas near the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai. People from all walks of life have included yoga in their daily routine. Last year, more than 24 crore people across the globe marked the International Yoga Day. PTI
People observe Yoga Day celebrations with a semi-high-speed train, Vande Bharat, in the background. Yoga can bring the world together. As PM Modi urged: "Let this Yoga Day mark the beginning of Yoga for humanity 2.0, where inner peace becomes global policy." News18