The International Day of Yoga is being celebrated today in India and across the world. Physical observance of the day is being held at 75 heritage and iconic sites in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the Yoga Day celebrations from Mysuru. The idea of the Yoga Day was first proposed by the Prime Minister in 2014. The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated the next year on June 21. The day is recognised by the United Nations.
Here are the Updates on International Day of Yoga:
The crisis in the ruling Shiv Sena on Tuesday after senior leader Eknath Shinde went "incommunicado" with a sizable number of MLAs led to Mumbai police deploying a large number of personnel at the party's headquarters in Dadar area.
"This protest will continue against whoever betrays the Shiv Sena. Our leader Uddhav Thackeray will overcome all these problems and emerge victorious," one woman at the site said.
Yoga has become an international festival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday as tens of thousands of people, including ministers and commoners, across the world performed asanas and breathing exercises on the occasion of the eighth International Day of Yoga.
Until a few years ago, pictures of yoga were limited to homes and spiritual centres but today they are coming from every corner of the world, PM Modi said, adding that this shows the excitement for International Day of Yoga among people.
"Today yoga has become an international festival. Yoga is not limited to any individual, but it is for the whole of humanity. So, this year's International Yoga Day's theme is 'Yoga for Humanity'," he said.
Yoga can help develop unity and love, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in a veiled reference to Pakistan at the International Border in Jammu's Octerio Border Outpost on Tuesday.
"I think our neighbouring country can also create an environment of unity and love with us through (practice of) yoga," Singh said in reply to a question posed by the media about his message to Pakistan.
Billionaire Gautam Adani today did an hour-long session of yoga exercises in the open air as he led corporate India to join the International Day of Yoga celebrations. Mr Adani, chairman of logistics-to-energy conglomerate Adani Group, and his wife Priti, who heads the Adani Foundation, "participated with more than 1,000 members of the Adani Parivaar team to celebrate health, mindfulness and meditation," the group said in a statement. The session was held at a football ground at Adani Shantigram in Ahmedabad.
This #InternationalYogaDay, it was my privilege to participate with my Adani Parivaar team in the morning celebrating mindfulness and meditation. Together with @adanifoundation my wish for everyone is to imbibe yoga in this journey for a healthier nation. #IndiaRahegaFit pic.twitter.com/cceoLC6kD9
- Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) June 21, 2022
Yoga has no barrier of age, caste, geography or religion and everyone should make the ancient physical fitness regime a part of their daily routine to reap its rich benefits, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said today. Addressing the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations organised in Hyderabad by the Ministries of Culture and Ayush, he said, "Yoga is time-tested. Yoga has no barrier, no age, no caste, no region, no religion. That's why it is universal." He complemented Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking Yoga to the United Nations and popularising it across the globe.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur today said it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who explained to the United Nations General Assembly the importance of yoga and appealed to the world to adopt it. "On his call, all the countries of the world adopted yoga and resolved to celebrate the International Yoga Day every year on June 21. This is a big achievement for India," the minister said during a yoga practice session at Katoch Palace in Sujanpur in Himachal Pradesh.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister of State for Finance Dr Bhagwat Karad led a crowd of nearly 7,500 people in performing yoga this morning at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad on the occasion of the International Yoga Day. "More and more people have understood the importance of a healthy lifestyle based on yoga and 'pranayam' after the coronavirus outbreak," Mr Patel said addressing the participants.
Greetings on #InternationalDayofYoga.
- Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) June 21, 2022
Participated in #YogaDay2022 along with Hon'ble Union MoS Shri @KapilPatil_ and hundreds of people at Dal Lake in Srinagar. I urged all to embrace Yoga as an integral part of life for holistic approach to health & well-being. pic.twitter.com/wRnx1ixW9f
The power of yoga is the power of unity for a healthier and prosperous future for all and it is here to stay, President of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid said, underlining that the practice offers a holistic approach at a time when the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic that triggered a deluge of anxiety and depression. Mr Shahid was addressing a special commemorative event organised by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN here on Monday.
'Himveers' of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) practise yoga in Ladakh at 17,000 feet on 8th International Day of Yoga.
'Himveers' of the Indo-Tibetan Border police (ITBP) practicing Yoga at 16,000 feet in Uttarakhand on 8th International Day of Yoga.
"Each and every individual in Delhi must be healthy. Each of them should do Yoga. Children should do Yoga. I learnt Yoga in 8th standard. I learned it during my summer vacation at a nearby Yoga camp. We used to do all asanas as bodies of kids are more flexible...Some people criticise me for providing free Yoga services. But I learned it for free and that is why I will also provide it for free to others," said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
"I have been told that Delhi is the city where highest number of people practice Yoga in Parks. But I am not satisfied. We need to take this number from thousands to lakhs. While we ensure best healthcare services for you, what we want is that you should be able to prevent diseases in the first place and things like Yoga will help that," said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
"The solution to a lot of complex diseases has been found through Yoga. Yoga should become a part of life. Even a half hour of Yoga daily will be beneficial. Last two years during Covid also, Yoga helped people relieve their stress. Delhi government's Yoga teachers did extremely well during these testing times They gave online classes to thousands of Covid patients. Yoga does not cure Covid but it helps in reducing the intensity of the disease. We also started the 'Delhi ki Yogshala' initiative to provide Yoga teachers for free to groups across Delhi. Now about 17,000 people participate in 'Delhi ki Yogshala' morning classes," said Delhi Chief Minster Arvind Kejriwal.
Yoga is India's gift to humanity and it is a holistic approach to health and well-being, balancing mind, body and soul, President Ram Nath Kovind said today, greeting people on the International Yoga Day. He also asked everyone to make Yoga a part of their daily life and experience its benefits. "Greetings on #InternationalDayofYoga! Yoga is a part of our ancient Indian heritage. India's gift to humanity, it is a holistic approach to health and well-being, balancing our mind, body and soul. I urge everyone to make Yoga a part of your daily life & experience its benefits," President Kovind tweeted.
An early morning start with some yoga, ahead of a busy couple of days here in India.
- Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) June 21, 2022
Looking forward to a packed couple of days, meeting my counterparts and seeing firsthand our close partnership.@rajnathsingh @DefenceMinIndia @DefenceAust @dfat @AusHCIndia @AusCG_Mumbai pic.twitter.com/60u27nEVa8
The 'Himveers' of the Indo-Tibetan Border police (ITBP) practice Yoga at 17,000 feet in snow conditions in Sikkim on 8th International Day of Yoga.
ITBP Jawans dedicate a song on 8th #InternationalDayofYoga-2022. The ITBP personnel have been exemplary in promoting #Yoga by demonstrating various yogasanas at different high altitude Himalayan ranges in Ladakh, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim & Arunachal Pradesh over the years. pic.twitter.com/y0FH80f9wO
- ITBP (@ITBP_official) June 21, 2022
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today performed yoga at the main event of the eighth edition of the International Day of Yoga in Mysuru, Karnataka. Over 15,000 people participated in the Yoga celebrations along with the PM at Mysore Palace grounds. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and other officials also performed yoga at the event.
"Yoga brings peace for us. The peace from yoga is not merely for individuals. Yoga brings peace to our society. Yoga brings peace to our nations and the world. And, Yoga brings peace to our universe. This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us. And, Yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness."