As the world joined India in celebrating the fourth edition of International Day of Yoga on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the ancient Indian discipline has emerged as the most powerful unifying force in a strife-torn world.
“In yoga, we have the perfect solution to the problems we face, either as individuals or in our society... instead of dividing, yoga unites. Instead of further animosity, yoga assimilates. Instead of increasing suffering, yoga heals,” Modi said before he went on to perform asanas with over 50,000 yoga volunteers who had started congregating at the sprawling campus of the British-era Forest Research of India (FRI) here in Uttarakhand since wee hours of Thursday.
Modi said yoga has become the biggest mass movement across the globe in the quest for good health and wellbeing, which is crucial to the creation of a peaceful world.
“Dehradun to Dublin, Shanghai to Chicago, Jakarta to Johannesburg, Himalayan highlands or deserts, yoga is enriching millions of lives all over the world. Similarly, from Tokyo to Toronto, from Stockholm to Sao Paulo, yoga has become a positive influence in the lives of millions.
“Be it in the Himalayas or the acrid desert, yoga is developing life. When forces defeat us and break us, there is division within society and family. The person breaks from within, with loneliness enveloping him/her. Yoga does the work of joining these pieces,” Modi said in his 15-minute address.
Calling yoga as a force that binds the entire world, he said, “Family, society, country, world, yoga connects all of them. Connecting the mind, body, intellect and soul, it brings about peace.”
Wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of white trousers, the PM who arrived at the event around 7 am joined the yoga enthusiasts in performing around 20 asanas in tune with commentary delivered by Dr Ishwar Basavaraddi, Director of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under the Ayush Ministry.
Modi also praised the Himalayan State for being a centre for yoga for several decades. “The mountains around here inspire people to do yoga. Man experiences a divine intervention,” he said recollecting the proposal for the Yoga Day at the UN was accepted in record time with a majority of nations backing it.
“The world has embraced yoga and proof of this can been seen in how the International Yoga Day has been marked,” the Prime Minister said, adding that “Yoga is beautiful because it is ancient yet modern, constant yet evolving. It is a ray of hope for our future. In yoga, we have the perfect solutions to problems we face.”
As India struggles with the non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart attacks which are on increase, Modi took the opportunity to highlight the health benefits of performing yoga. “Every year, almost 18 million people die due to heart-related diseases. About 1.6 million people lose the fight to diabetes. The way to lead a calm, creative and content life is yoga. Instead of dividing, yoga also unites; instead of animosity, yoga assimilates; instead of increased suffering, yoga heals,” he said, adding it helps reduce medical expenses also.
While calling the Modi’s proposal at the UN for holding an International Yoga Day ‘historic’, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said yoga not only leads to wellness but also happiness. Echoing similar sentiments, Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik said the fact that yoga helps in tackling various challenges of life is yet to be understood by the people. He announced that soon all the Ministries will take yoga as part of their annual activities.
Besides drones, nearly 3,000 security personnel were on duty and over 65 CCTV cameras kept a close watch on the one-hour event.