Bhubaneswar: The 8th International Day of Yoga is being celebrated today across 75 prominent heritage spots of the country with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the event at Mysuru in Karnataka.
The Prime Minister participated in the mega 45-minute event organised on the premises of the historical and magnificent Mysuru Palace. More than 15,000 people participated in the mass event. The theme for this year’s Yoga Day celebrations is “Yoga for Humanity”.
“Yoga is not a part of life, it is a way of life,” Modi said.
He added, “Yoga is ensuring the universal health. Yoga which was practiced in houses and spiritual centres is now being seen around the world. It has become natural human spirit.”
The spirit of yoga was not diminished during the two years of Covid-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister said.
“Yoga is not for individuals, Yoga is for humanity.”
“I thank United Nations and all countries and all citizens of the world on behalf of India on the occasion,” he added.
Modi further said that yoga brings peace on earth and universe. Yoga can connect millions of people and is being performed at 75 historical places in India, he added.
“People get united with the flash of the rays of Sun. As the sun rises the people practicing yoga across the world will form a guardian ring of yoga. Yoga relieves an individual on agitated mindset at any given point,” Modi said.
“Yog ko jannaa bhi hai, jeena bhi hai. Paana bhi hai aur apnaana bhi hai (One should know Yoga, live Yoga and adopt Yoga in life),” he added.
The International Yoga Day celebrations include a display of as many as 19 ‘asanas’ or poses in a span of 45 minutes.
The celebration started with a one-minute prayer. The Prime Minister performed 19 asanas which include Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Padahastasana, Ardha Chakrasana, Vakrasana, Makarasana, Setubandhasana, Shalabhasana and others.
June 21 is observed as the International Day of Yoga every year since 2015. The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly in 2014.
Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga. The first Yoga Day was celebrated in 2015.
