New York: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is in New York to participate in the International Yoga Day celebrations, met United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday and participated in the International Day of Yoga event organised by the UN.
Here are LIVE Updates of External Affairs Minister's speech:
- I am confident that Yoga can also become a potent tool for the United Nations to promote the message of brotherhood and amity in the finest Indian tradition of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam': Sushma Swaraj at UN
- At a time when ethnic conflicts and extremist violence are threatening to destabilize society, Yoga can serve as a perfect antidote: Sushma Swaraj at UN
- Yoga is a science of well-being: Sushma Swaraj at UN
- Yoga is neither a religion, nor should it be seen as belonging to any religion: Sushma Swaraj at UN
- In a world increasingly divided by what the great poet Rabindranath Tagore called “narrow domestic walls”, PM Modi had a vision of India’s ancient treasure that would do the opposite: Sushma Swaraj at UN
- And this is the place where it all began. On 27th Sept PM Modi first made the proposal of a Yoga Day at UN General Assembly: Sushma Swaraj at UN
- Yoga began in India some 5000 years ago but it was given International acclaim only last year by the UN: Sushma Swaraj at UN
- An honor for me to join all of you on this day: Sushma Swaraj at UN
- Vikas Swarup, Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, tweets snapshots from the International Yoga Day event at UN
From Yoga for peace to Peacekeeping. EAM @SushmaSwaraj releases book on Indian peacekeepers with USG Atul Khare pic.twitter.com/HB5pDleaOL
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Closing remarks by PR Asoke Mukerji at Times Square. pic.twitter.com/vrjHiX4GIy
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Timeless wisdom at Times Square. @SriSri addresses the Summer Solstice event in New York pic.twitter.com/6mwGPfWSMH
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
United by Yoga. More pics from the Summer Solstice event at Times Square pic.twitter.com/wSshJ1ujUB
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
You are all now Ambassadors of Yoga. EAM @SushmaSwaraj addresses the mammoth gathering at Times Square. pic.twitter.com/l3liIJyi4Q
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Meditating in the heart of the concrete jungle. Yoga at Times Square pic.twitter.com/KPDV3bvRps
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Look inside your heart... Yoga practice underway at Times Square by Douglas Stewart pic.twitter.com/5Ydcim9TO2
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Amazing spectacle. Summer Solstice at Times Square meets the First International Day of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/ooCu2lQQwr
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Uniting all New Yorkers. @SriSri 's Yoga practice at UN being followed by thousands at Times Square via video link pic.twitter.com/98kg19UOKn
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Let us honour our own body. Observe the rhythm of the breath. @SriSri at the UN pic.twitter.com/X0X09g1pks
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Learning from a master. Final phase of mass Yoga practice underway at the UN led by @SriSri pic.twitter.com/1coLFtL03t
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
And the Shavasana... pic.twitter.com/zpdktNWPVc
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Bhujang asana... pic.twitter.com/fxBPXtbsT2
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Some more pics from the amazing Yoga practice led by @SriSri at the UN. pic.twitter.com/LDsrVS0Qxs
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Arms outstretched for harmony and peace. Mass Yoga practice underway at Visitor's Plaza. The first in UN history. pic.twitter.com/9upUbeD03C
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
And now for some Yoga practice. @SriSri leads the lecture cum demonstration at the UN. UNSG and PGA join in. pic.twitter.com/PmvHE9gp76
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
UNSG Ban Ki-moon and Mrs. Ban Soon-taek join hundreds in performing Yoga at the UN on First Yoga Day pic.twitter.com/OBj8WHmEvK
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Tim Topkins: Thank you India for the gift of Yoga. And thank you to the UN for celebrating that gift. pic.twitter.com/naeInA9gx2
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Tim Topkins: We started with 3 people, 10 years ago. This year we had 15000 pre registered. Shows the power of Yoga. pic.twitter.com/yUzuRWpVFh
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
A true yogi recognises that we are not just physical bodies but spiritual entities. Rep Tulsi Gabbard at UN. pic.twitter.com/YiuRr7WsPv
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Yoga is for all regardless of strength, age or ability. UNSG Ban Ki-moon at IDY at UN. pic.twitter.com/AjrTq2mSIg
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
If Yoga promotes physical dexterity, it can also promote diplomatic flexibility. @UNSG Ban Ki-moon at IDY at UN pic.twitter.com/LYha5SDjmw
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
Yoga increases self awareness and compassion which is needed by humanity. PGA Sam Kutesa at #YogaDay @UN
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 21, 2015
- International Yoga Day celebrations at UN had Sri Sri Ravi Shankar guiding those present on Yoga postures, which included UNSG Ban Ki-moon.
#yogaDay at UNHQ in NYC continues with @SriSri, Ban Ki-moon & audience doing yoga. Watch live: http://t.co/WhwXXmCYWf pic.twitter.com/82GYDyo0vQ
— United Nations (@UN) June 21, 2015
Earlier in the day Ban greeted Sushma with a 'namaste.' and asked, `Kya haal chaal hain?`Expressing his excitement at the first International Day of Yoga during his meeting with the External Affairs Minister UN Secretary General said the day has garnered "unprecedented" enthusiasm from people around the world.
"I heard that there is great enthusiasm in India. We were thinking how we could do programmes... it is unprecedented that two million people are participating. I would like to thank India for this," the UN Secretary General told Swaraj during their meeting.
The yoga day event in New York has been organised by the Indian Mission at the United Nations.
The United Nations declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga after adopting a measure proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prime Minister Modi had in his speech at the UN General Assembly in September 2014 called for recognition of such a day.
(With Agency Inputs)
