International Yoga Day 2019: Modi attends mega event in Ranchi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebrations on International Yoga Day, Friday (June 21), by attending a mega event in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi. At the event, attended by nearly 30,000 people, PM Modi performed asanas and stressed on the importance of Yoga. Similar events have been planned across the country. Home Minister Amit Shah participated at an event in Haryana's Rohtak. Here's more.
UN declared June 21 as International Yoga Day
The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as International Yoga Day, after PM Modi suggested the idea. In 2015, when Yoga Day was celebrated for the first time, 35,985 people, including PM Modi and dignitaries from 84 nations, performed 21 asanas in Delhi'>New Delhi's Rajpath. The event lasted for some 35 minutes. The celebrations have only gotten bigger since then.
Want to take Yoga from cities to villages: PM Modi
The event in Ranchi was organized at Prabhat Tara ground. While addressing the crowd, PM Modi said 'yoga belongs to everyone and everyone belongs to yoga'. Revealing his plans for the future, PM Modi added, "Diseases make a poor person poorer; I want to take Yoga from cities to the villages, to the jungles, to the poor and the adivasis."
PM Modi talked about taking yoga to another level
"From cities and parks to sports complexes, yoga can be experienced today from street to wellness centers. Today when world is accepting yoga, we also have to further research on yoga; we have to unite yoga with fields of medicine, physiotherapy, artificial intelligence," he added.
28 giant screens were installed at venue of Ranchi event
Understandably, massive preparations were made for the event. PM Modi arrived in Ranchi on Thursday night itself. Reportedly, the venue ensconces 400 makeshift toilets and more than 200 drinking water kiosks. Apart from this, eight medical teams, 21 ambulances, and disaster rescue force personnel were kept on their toes. Over 100 CCTV cameras were installed and 28 giant screens erected at different spots.
10 lakh people expected to attend Yoga sessions in Delhi
Following PM Modi's footsteps, several BJP leaders participated in Yoga Day celebrations. Along with lawmaker Meenakshi Lekhi, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh attended an event in Delhi's Rajpath. BJP's Manoj Tiwari said nearly 10 lakh people are expected to attend 300 Yoga sessions, which his party is hosting in Delhi. "Senior BJP leaders and union ministers will take part in 40 big events," he added.
Smriti Irani shared photos from the event she attended
Meanwhile, Syed Akbaruddin thanked UN for Yoga's 'remarkable growth'
Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative to UN, said the UN contributed towards the remarkable growth of Yoga around the world. "It was here that ancient practice of Yoga was transformed into an annual global observance," he added. Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind said Yoga Day is not just an event, but a way of making Yoga an integral part of our lives.
Braving temperatures, Indian Army performed Yoga at Himalayan posts
Pictures from across the globe show Yoga Day has become a phenomenon and everyone is rolling their mats. Early this morning, Army personnel deployed at several posts in the Himalayas performed Yoga. Officers of the Indian Navy also performed Yoga onboard INS Sumedha. Actress Shilpa Shetty, who is known for her healthy lifestyle, was seen at a Yoga event at Gateway of India, Mumbai.
