Lakhs Stretch For International Yoga Day, PM Leads Event

CHANDIGARH: Lakhs of people across India and abroad stretched themselves in various postures to mark the second International Yoga Day today as Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the main event in Chandigarh, performing asanas, maintaining that yoga is not a religious activity. 

Dressed in a white T-shirt and trousers with a scarf around his neck, Modi joined over 30,000 people including defense forces personnel and school children for the event and asked people to embrace yoga like they have taken to mobile phones, saying "it gives us health assurance at zero budget". 

He also pitched for treating diabetes through Yoga and announced two awards including international Yoga awards for excellent work in the field. 

President Pranab Mukherjee kicked off the celebrations at Rashtrapati Bhavan with around 1,000 persons participating in a mass yoga event. 

The day had its share of controversies with Kerala Health Minister and senior CPI(M) leader K K Shailaja expressing reservations over rendering of a Sanskrit 'shloka'. 

Taking part in the state-level Yoga event in Thiruvananthapuram, the Minister asked the officials whether the 'shloka' was necessary to be included in the programme schedule and suggested a commonly accepted prayer could have been included at the event. 

No official programme was organised by the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar where Union minister Ravishankar Prasad, led thousands of people in observing the fitness regime. 

In Puducherry, Chief Minister V.Narayanasamy and his ministerial colleagues, who were scheduled to participate in the yoga day celebration, were conspicuous by their absence. Lt Governor Kiran Bedi led participants at the mass yoga demonstration. 

Union Ministers fanned out to various states to lead the yoga day celebrations. 

Braving rains, Home Minister Rajnath Singh participated in the main programme at KD Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow. 

In Jaipur, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Union Minister Uma Bharti were present at the event venue. However, Bharti was seen sitting on a chair and did not perform asanas due to health reasons. She only did some breathing exercises. 

While Governor Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led the functions in Mumbai, the event in Madhya Pradesh was led by HRD Minister Smriti Irani. 

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu performed asanas at the state level event in Vijaywada. 

The day also saw nearly 2,000 pregnant women setting a record by performing yoga in Gujarat's Rajkot. 

At the United Nations, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon asked citizens across nations to embrace healthier choices to mark the International Day of Yoga.
"On this International Day of Yoga, I urge everyone to 

embrace healthier choices and lifestyles and to commit to unity with our fellow human beings, regardless of ethnicity, faith, age, gender identity or sexual orientation," Ban said. 

The UN Chief's message for yoga day was read out by Indian diplomat and currently his Special Advisor on Myanmar Vijay Nambiar during a special panel discussion organised by India's Permanent Mission to the UN. 

Ahead of the Day, several striking images of complex yoga postures illuminated the UN headquarters. 

Armed forces also marked the Day across the country by performing 'aasanas' at several events including on warships. 

In Kashmir, the main function was held at the official residence of Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh in Srinagar where several BJP leaders including MLAs took part. 

Officials said two events were conducted by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) exclusively for its girl cadets at Government School Kothibagh and Government Girls Higher Secondary School Nawakadal. 

At the main Yoga event in Chandigarh, the Prime Minister stressed that yoga is not 'Dharmik Karamkand' (a religious activity) but a "science for this life". 

He also urged people not to drag yoga into a controversy. 

Pitching for treating diseases like diabetes through the ancient discipline, he said, "All people belonging to yoga field, whatever knowledge they have, they must continue with the rest of their yoga activities but this (diabetes) must be the main focus". 

As participants bent and stretched themselves at the French architect Le-Corbusier designed Capitol Complex, he said Yoga is not about what one will get, but it is about what one can give up. 

He said with zero budget, Yoga provides health assurance, and does not discriminate between rich and poor. 

Urging people not to put Yoga into any controversy, Modi stressed upon them to adopt it for good life. 

On the awards for yoga, Modi said there will be a expert committee which will frame rules for giving out awards. 

"India wants that those associated with Yoga in the country and rest of the world be awarded. Those working for yoga in the country should be honoured. And this tradition be taken forward then. Gradually, we can take it to state and district level," he said.
Modi noted that Yoga was turning out to be "very big" business. 

"Today yoga is becoming a very big business. It is developing as big profession. Demand for yoga trainers is growing. Employment opportunities for youth are rising. In many parts of the world, there are places where TV channels are dedicated to showing Yoga programmes only," he said Modi said Centre has started working towards fixing norms and protocols for Yoga training to take it to the world. 

"Today in every part of world, yoga has become a subject of prestige. Our ancestors, 'rishi munis', gave this science, to us and it is our responsibility to take Yoga to the world. We should do our capacity building. Expert Yoga teachers should be ready in the country. 

"Government's quality council has worked in the direction of fixing norms with regard to yoga training. Centre has started working in association with WHO to fix protocols and scientific ways for yoga," he said. 

The PM noted that the day got immense support from across the world, turning it into one of the biggest campaign. 

"I also express gratitude to the United Nations. It is a matter of pride that people across the world are connecting with it (Yoga Day) celebrations. We should give new power, new energy and new inspiration to Yoga," he said.

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