Rajpath turns into Yogpath

It was a day full of energy, enthusiasm and excitement as Delhi woke up to spirited celebrations of mind, body and spirit on the first-ever International Yoga Day. On Sunday morning, all roads led to Rajpath where over 35,000 yoga enthusiasts, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made sure that the much-anticipated event becomes a landmark event grabbing eyeballs all across the world. 

leading the celebrations in the country, Modi said it marks the dawn of a “new era” to bring peace and harmony in the world.“We are not celebrating a day but we are training the human mind to begin a new era of peace and harmony,” Modi said from the dais, adding that it was a programme for human welfare and to spread the message of goodwill.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the United Nations for its support in passing an India-sponsored resolution to declare June 21 as International Day of YogaTo the surprise of thousands of participants who were prepared to perform yoga as the Prime Minister watched, Modi joined them and did most of the 21 asanas along with 35,000 people, including leaders, officials, soldiers and students, in a yoga demonstration. He was not scheduled to perform yoga and was supposed to be just a spectator.

“Who would have thought that Rajpath would become YogpathIJ” he said before climbing down the podium and joined thousands of students, soldiers, officials and diplomats. Excited students couldn’t control their happiness and mobbed the PM when he went to meet them. Many students said that it was like a dream come true for them. 

“We had never thought that we would be able to meet the PM, sit just next to him and perform yoga with him,” said twin brothers Ankit and Aman, students of Shri Sanatan Dharam Saraswati Bal Mandir in Punjabi Bagh.