New Delhi, Jun 21 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday led the celebrations for fourth international Yoga day across the country, describing it as the 'biggest mass movement' that has shown the world the path from illness to wellness.
Addressing close to 50,000 people at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun, the Prime Minister said, 'Yoga has become the biggest mass movement and it has shown the world the path from illness to wellness. Instead of increasing sufferings, Yoga heals.'
Wearing a white t-shirt and a pair of white trousers, Mr Modi performed breathing exercises and asanas along with thousands of other yoga enthusiasts who performed the same on saffron yoga mats.
In Dehradun, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Uttarakhand Governor KK Paul, Union Minister of state for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik and Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat also participated.
Noting that the entire world has embraced yoga, the PM said, 'Glimpses of this can be seen in the manner in which International Day of Yoga has been marked every year.'
'From Dehradun to Dublin, Shanghai to Chicago, Jakarta to Johannesburg, yoga has become a positive influence in the lives of millions,' the PM said.
Mr Modi said that in yoga, one has the perfect solution to the problems one face, either as individuals or in society.
'Yoga is beautiful because it is ancient yet modern, it is constant yet evolving. It has the best of our past and presents and a ray of hope for our future. In yoga, we have the perfect solution to the problems we face, either as individuals or in our society.
The way to lead a calm, creative and content life is yoga. It can show the way in defeating tensions and mindless anxiety. Instead of dividing, yoga unites. Instead of further animosity, yoga assimilates. Instead of increasing sufferings, yoga heals,'the PM said.
He said yoga plays an important role in promoting health.
'If we regularly practice pranayam and asanas, we can minimise illness around us. Yoga plays an important role in promoting health. I urge all the people in the nation to practice yoga and those too who have never tried it,' the PM said.
The PM is leading the celebration of fourth international Yoga day with Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Suresh Prabhu, Uma Bharti, Ram Vilas Paswan, Ravi Shankar Prasad participating in yoga events in Lucknow, Nagpur, Chennai, Rudraprayag, Hajipur and Patna respectively.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is also on a tour to Europe, will lead the IYD celebrations at the European Parliament in Brussels.
In the national capital too, various events were held.
The 4th International Yoga Day was celebrated at the Rashtrapati Bhavan with a yoga demonstration. More than 500 officers, staff of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and their family members as well as residents of the President’s Estate participated in the event.
President Ram Nath Kovind, who is on the state visit of Suriname will also participate in the International Yoga Day celebration along with the President of Suriname and other dignitaries in Paramaribo at 0700 (local time in Suriname).
The main event at Rajpath was attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and others.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Col Rajyavardhan Rathore participated in the Yoga session in Shahdara.
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu celebrated the occasion in Mumbai.
Reports of Yoga celebration came in from various states.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Day was celebrated at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium at Sonwar in Srinagar. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said yoga reflects India's "soft power" globally.
The Prime Minister Modi, had within months of taking over in 2014, proposed that June 21 be designated by the United Nations General Assembly as International Yoga Day -- which was later accepted overwhelmingly.
June 21 is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and thus has special significance in many parts of the world.
Last year, PM Modi had led the yoga day celebrations in Lucknow. Chandigarh was the host city for the main event in 2016 and the main event for the first International Yoga Day celebrations was New Delhi.
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