Narendra Modi leads International Yoga Day Celebration at Chandigarh

On December 11 in 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21st as the International Day of Yoga.

The declaration came after the call for the adoption of June 21st as International Day of Yoga by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014 wherein he stated:

LIVE: PM Modi at Chandigarh Yoga camp. Over 30000 people attending event- https://t.co/GBZbvn50Eo #IDY2016 #योगदिवस pic.twitter.com/RmdmOsf61e

— BJP (@BJP4India) June 21, 2016

LIVE: PM @narendramodi to lead thousands on second International #YogaDay https://t.co/Hbi4GfXwp8 #योगदिवस #IDY2016 pic.twitter.com/cMUaITnl75

— Yuva TV (@YuvaiTV) June 21, 2016

"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. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature."

PM @narendramodi doing Yoga along with thousands of youth in Chandigarh - https://t.co/GBZbvn50Eo #YogaDay #IDY2016 pic.twitter.com/aTd8ooUDFR

— BJP (@BJP4India) June 21, 2016

PM Shri @narendramodi doing Yoga in Chandigarh - https://t.co/Hbi4GfXwp8 #YogaDay #IDY2016 pic.twitter.com/ywzdQlBgsY

— Yuva TV (@YuvaiTV) June 21, 2016

In Suggesting June 21, which is the Summer Solstice, as the International Day of Yoga, he had said that, "the date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.

LIVE: PM @narendramodi takes part in #YogaDay celebrations in Chandigarh - https://t.co/Hbi4GfXwp8 #IDY2016 pic.twitter.com/J2sNDCDsv6

— Yuva TV (@YuvaiTV) June 21, 2016

Today he led the International Yoga Day celebration at Chandigarh and addressed the people there. He began by stating that, "At present, in all parts of the nation people have been connected to Yoga".

Important to integrate Yoga with our lives. Do not wait, make Yoga a part of one's life: PM @narendramodi #IDY2016 pic.twitter.com/fsDhRQl4ua

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 21, 2016

He further added that, "The world supported the idea of International Day of Yoga. All sections of society came together in this endeavour".

PM on popularity of Yoga Day, "This is a day linked with good health and now it has become a people's mass movement. Yoga is not about what one will get, it is about what one can give up".

PM on benefits of Yoga, "With zero budget, Yoga provides health assurance. Yoga does not discriminate between rich and poor".

PM talked about two Yoga awards, one international and one for India and added that, "we want to honour those working to popularising Yoga".

Quotable quotes from PM's speech on Yoga Day:

"Let's make Yoga more popular globally. Let India produce good Yoga teachers."

"Yoga will connect you to yourself, which is vital in these times when everyone is so busy."

"Let's focus on one thing in the coming days, how to mitigate diabetes through Yoga. Diabetes can surely be controlled through Yoga."

During the International Yoga Day celebration PM interacted with people doing Yoga at the venue.

PM @narendramodi interacting with Youth at Yoga camp in Chandigarh #YogaDay #Iday2016 pic.twitter.com/4ouqewrioQ

— Yuva TV (@YuvaiTV) June 21, 2016

PM Shri @narendramodi at Yoga camp in Chandigarh. #योगदिवस #YogaDay #IDY2016 pic.twitter.com/5YVpb4iMK1

— Yuva TV (@YuvaiTV) June 21, 2016

PM @narendramodi in Chandigarh on the occasion of 2nd International Day of Yoga. #योगदिवस #IDY2016 pic.twitter.com/osgxstC07x

— Yuva TV (@YuvaiTV) June 21, 2016

These Divyang friends are the pride of the #IDY2016 celebrations. Spent time with them in Chandigarh. #YogaDay pic.twitter.com/gDTVKcSj5q

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2016