International Yoga Day: PM Modi says Yoga unites everyone; announces national and international Yoga awards

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that International Yoga Day is a day linked with good health and it has now turned into a people's mass movement.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi/Chandigarh: As lakhs of people across the country began the day on Tuesday with yoga exercises to mark the second International Yoga Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that this is a day linked with good health and it has now turned into a people's mass movement.

Addressing the people at Capitol Complex in Chandigarh early on Tuesday morning, Modi said, “The whole world supported the resolution on Yoga Day. We got support from all sections of society”.

Appealing everyone to make Yoga more popular world over, the PM stressed upon the need to produce good Yoga teachers.

Stating that Yoga does not discriminate between rich and poor, Modi said, “Today more and more gynaecologists are recommending Yoga for pregnant women.”

“Yoga is not about what one will get, it is about what one can give up,” Modi added.

Modi also highlighted upon the need to focus on one thing –how to mitigate diabetes through Yoga, adding that diabetes can surely be controlled through Yoga.

At present, in all parts of the nation people have been connected to Yoga. I really feel some people don't fully understand the power and benefits of Yoga,” Modi stated.

Modi also announced national and international yoga awards to honour those working to popularise Yoga Day. “From next year onwards we will give two awards on Yoga Day, we want to honour those working to popularise Yoga,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Pranab Mukherjee kicked off a yoga demonstration at Rashtrapati Bhavan in which around 1,000 persons took part.

The participants included officers and staff of the President`s Secretariat, their family members, members of Delhi Police, ITBP and President`s Bodyguard as well as other residents of President`s Estate.

The United Nations General Assembly had declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day on December 11, 2014 following a resolution moved by India and co-sponsored by a large number of nations. The first International Yoga Day celebration was organised at Rajpath in New Delhi on June 21.