International Yoga Day: Narendra Modi joins 40,000 people, performs ‘asans’
21 Jun 2015 10:37 AM IST21 Jun 2015 10:37 AM IST
International Yoga Day: Narendra Modi joins 40,000 people, performs ‘asans’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday led the first International Yoga Day celebrations in the country, defining yoga as a means to train the human mind to begin a new era of peace and harmony. (Photo: AP)- Maintaining that the 'asanas' are just a beginning of the larger picture of yoga, he compared it with the fine tuning of various music instruments at the beginning of a music show. (Photo: AP)
- Hailing the contributions of yoga gurus and exponents of various traditions in the world, the Prime Minister noted that sometimes some deformities creep in every tradition due to ignorance. (Photo: AP)
- "This mismatch will also become a crisis for humankind. That is why it is necessary that internal development of man should also take place simultaneously," Modi said adding that this can be done through yoga. (Photo: AP)
- Noting that new revolutions are happening in the field of technology in the world, Modi said that they would not serve any purpose if human development remains stagnant. (Photo: AP)
- He also said that the support for yoga that has been built in the country will be taken forward in future as well. (Photo: AP)
- The Prime Minister, who has been under attack from the opposition for "usurping" yoga to "highlight" himself, insisted that the programme is only intended to benefit the humankind and spread the message of love and well-being. (Photo: AP)
- Later, the Prime Minister interacted with the children who had converged for the event. (Photo: AP)
- The Prime Minister expressed joy over the large gathering at Rajpath noting, "Did anyone imagine this Rajpath will become a Yogpath?” (Photo: AP)
- "We are not only celebrating a day but we are training the human mind to begin a new era of peace - Sadbhavana....This is a programme for the benefit of mankind, a tension-free world and a programme to spread the message of Sadbhavana," Modi said. (
- He also said that it is not important for him where this ancient technique originated and where all it has reached. (Photo: AP)
- The Prime Minister expressed hope that the atmosphere built in favour of yoga in the country will continue in future as well. (Photo: AP)
- "For most of the people, yoga is just a physical exercise. This is the biggest mistake.... Had this been the case, children working in circuses could have been called 'yogis'. Hence yoga is not only about making the body flexible," he said, while
- It seeks to make a tension-free world and spread the message of 'Sadbhavana' (harmony), the Prime Minister said, adding that yoga is "more than only physical fitness". (Photo: AP)
- Kicking off the event, the Prime Minister said the programme is aimed at benefiting the people by making them both physically and mentally healthy. (Photo: AP)
- Yoga guru Ramdev shared the dais with Modi along with heads of some other religious and yoga institutions. Modi later joined the participants on the ground as he practised the 'asanas' during the 30-minute programme. (Photo: AP)
- The Prime Minister, who was expected to only address the gathering, surprised everyone by participating in the yoga exercises along with thousands of people, including children. (Photo: AP)
- The Prime Minister, who practised 'asanas' along with nearly 35,000 participants during a mega event at Rajpath here, also thanked the United Nations and the countries, which backed the resolution by India to mark June 21 as International Yoga Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday led the first International Yoga Day celebrations in the country, defining yoga as a means to train the human mind to begin a new era of peace and harmony. (Photo: AP)
International Yoga Day: Narendra Modi joins 40,000 people, performs ‘asans’
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