New Delhi: International Yoga Day 2024 was celebrated across the country with tremendous enthusiasm, with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the team of yoga enthusiasts performing in various poses at different places on Friday.
President Droupadi Murmu joined the celebrations in New Delhi. She took part in a yoga session on the occasion, and said, “Greetings to the entire global community, especially the fellow citizens of India, on International Yoga Day! Yoga is India’s unique gift to humanity. In view of rising lifestyle related problems, Yoga has become far more important today. Yoga is a way to physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Let us resolve to adopt yoga as an integral part of our day-to-day living.”
PM Modi performs Yoga in Srinagar
Prime Minister Modi had to shift his venue to to the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar after rains disrupted the event planned on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
This marks his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since starting his third consecutive term in office. This year’s celebration theme, “Yoga for self and society,” emphasises yoga’s impact on personal well-being and community health. The event in Srinagar was aimed at encouraging people’s participation from the grassroots level and promote yoga in rural areas.
Since the inception of the International Day of Yoga in 2014, the prime minister has led celebrations at various iconic sites, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru, and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Prime Minister proposed the idea of a global day dedicated to yoga during his 2014 address to the United National General Assembly (UNGA). In December 2014, the UNGA passed a resolution declaring June 21 as ‘International Yoga Day’.
The United Nations describes yoga as an ancient practise with physical, mental, and spiritual elements, originating in India. The word ‘yoga’ comes from Sanskrit, meaning to join or unite, which signifies the integration of body and consciousness.
Why is IYD?
In today’s busy and demanding lifestyles, it’s crucial to carve out moments of peace and tranquillity to nurture mental and physical health. Yoga, an age-old tradition with roots in India, has emerged as a valuable resource for individuals striving to find relaxation and manage stress. By incorporating physical poses, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices, yoga provides a comprehensive method for unwinding and fostering mental serenity.
Ministers practise Yoga
Union health minister JP Nadda urged everyone to incorporate yoga into their daily routines, emphasising its holistic benefits. Union ministers S Jaishankar, Anurag Thakur, Mansukh Mandaviya, Nitin Gadkari and others were seen performing yoga on the occasion of 10th International Yoga Day on Friday.
The ministry of culture organised the event at the historic Purana Quila site in Delhi. Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat led the celebration at Sun Dial Lawns, Qutab Minar, as mentioned by a senior official.
Rajnath Singh participates in yoga event at Mathura
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday participated in a yoga programme with military personnel on the occasion of the 10th International Yoga Day at the training centre of Strike 1 Corps Headquarters in Mathura. About 600 people including Army Chief General Manoj Pandey and General Officer Commanding of Strike 1 Corps Lieutenant General Sanjay Mitra along with senior officers, Agniveers, families and children participated in the programme.
Yoga Day at Indian Embassy in the US
Hundreds of yoga enthusiasts gathered to celebrate International Yoga Day at an event where India’s Deputy Ambassador to the US, Sripriya Ranganathan, delivered an address in which he said, “The 10th International Yoga Day has been held at a great scale across the world thanks to the collective efforts of individuals, communities and organisations who came together and practiced Yoga. It is clear that Yoga has become a unifying force, bringing together people across cultures and backgrounds. It is gladdening to see the youth participating in Yoga sessions with such zeal and dedication.”
Navy personnel perform Yoga onboard INS Saryu
Indian Navy personnel today performed Yoga onboard INS Saryu at Belawan in Indonesia. pic.twitter.com/gZMqA2e5R4
Gujarat to set up 51 ‘Yoga Studios’ this year
On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel said the state government will set up 51 ‘Yoga studios’ across the state to promote the ancient practice which “benefited people immensely” during COVID. A ‘Yoga Program’ was organised in the Ahmedabad Central Jail on Friday, reported news agency ANI. The yoga session was organised in Sabarmati Central Jail, Mahila Jail and Talim Shala which marked the attendance of around 3,000 prisoners. The event was also attended by the Director General of Police (DGP) of Gujarat, Dr KLN Rao.
‘Over 10 lakh Australians practice yoga’
Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green said that over 10 lakh Australians across the world practice yoga. He also shared a post on X, showcasing videos of yoga enthusiasts from the Australian High Commission performing their favourite asanas in the national capital.
“#DYK over 10 lakh Australians practice #yoga, including here in #NewDelhi? Meet yoga enthusiasts from our Australian High Commission performing their favourite asanas at iconic #Delhi locations to mark #InternationalYogaDay2024. #IYD2024 #YogaforSelfAndSociety @narendramodi,” Philip Green stated on X.
Kerala to start 10,000 yoga clubs this year
The Kerala government will be starting 10,000 new yoga clubs in the state this year, state Health Minister Veena George said on Friday on the occasion of World Yoga Day. George, in a statement issued by her office, said that yoga is essential for the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals and it has brought a healthy change to society. She was speaking at the state-level inauguration of the 10th International Yoga Day at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Stadium here, the statement said. The theme of this year’s Yoga Day is ‘Yoga for Individual and Society’, it added. George, in her statement, noted that yoga was best for a healthy body and mind as it can ward off diseases and strengthen the immune system.
BSF soldiers perform Yoga on sand dunes in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer
Border Security Force (BSF) jawans performed yoga on the famous ‘Sam’ sand dunes of Jaisalmer on Friday. Soldiers from the BSF’s 154th battalion also performed yoga at the posts along the Indo-Pak border in Jaisalmer. The main objective of this event was to increase awareness about the physical and mental benefits of yoga among the jawans, officers and the general public, said BSF DIG Jaisalmer (Sector South) Vikram Kunwar.
World embraced Yoga due to Modi’s efforts, says Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the world has embraced yoga due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, “We owe this opportunity to our esteemed prime minister whose vision and initiatives have led to nearly 200 countries embracing International Yoga Day. These countries have aligned themselves with our rich Indian heritage, thus honouring and enriching our culture and traditions. There can be no greater tribute to our ancestors, traditions, and heritage than this.”
