The International Yoga Day turned out to be a colourful and disciplined event in Chennai where Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu led nearly 1,000 people from different walks of life for yoga exercises under the guidance of Jaggi Vasudev, known as Sadhguru. The one–hour programme saw many BJP leaders from Tamil Nadu joining Naidu and the Sadhguru for Pranayama and a series of yoga exercises. Most of the participants were not strangers to yoga since Dravidian leaders like M Karunanidhi routinely practice it and encourage others to follow suit.
Naidu, who inaugurated the Yoga Day, pointed out that it has nothing to do with religion. “The decision of the UN to observe International Yoga Day has been endorsed by 47 Islamic countries. People of all these countries are actively participating in the IYD,” said Naidu.
He reminded the audience that the Yoga Day was not a Government programme. “This is a concept conceived and motivated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who wants yoga to be a national movement, just like his Swachchh Bharat, Beti Padhao and Beti Badhao campaigns,” Naidu said .The Minister said: “Yoga brings in a discipline of mind and body among people.”
Jaggi Vasudev, a Tamil version of Baba Ramdev, told hundreds who had joined the yoga class, said yoga predated all religions and it was more of a science and technology that dealt with the human mind, body and soul. “By teaching people yoga, we are only empowering them to achieve their own well-being,” Sadhguru said. Yoga has scientific tools to enable human beings discover, reach and attain inner well-being, the spiritual guru said.