'Mann Ki Baat' impact: After PM Narendra Modi's appeal, Muslims in Lucknow gear up to mark International Yoga Day on June 21

Days after PM Narendra Modi's radio appeal to countrymen to make Yoga an essential part of their lives, the Muslim community in Lucknow is all set to celebrate International Yoga day with much fan fare on June 21.

Lucknow: Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio appeal to countrymen to make Yoga an essential part of their lives, the Muslim community in Lucknow is all set to celebrate International Yoga day with much fan fare on June 21.

According to ANI, PM Modi will himself perform yoga along with the people of Lucknow on June 21, which is why there is lot of enthusiasm among the residents here.

Keeping aside caste and religious differences, the locals are all geared up to perform yoga.

The preparation for the same is also going on with great zeal. Not only Muslim men but women are also taking part actively in the preparation and arrangements for the yoga day.

"We are very happy that Prime Minister Modi chose our city for the yoga day. We all are eagerly waiting for this day and this is why we all are learning yoga," said a Muslim man.

Giving a message to the ones who associate yoga with religion, they said that "yoga itself means to connect."

"Those who ask Muslims to not perform yoga, they say this to divide the society. Yoga has nothing to do with religion. Yoga is itself a religion and on top of that it is important for our health. The Muslims have been practising yoga for 1450 years. While offering Namaj also we sit in a position which is same as yoga," said another Muslim man.

Urging the nation to make Yoga an essential part of their lives to remain stress free, Prime Minister Modi in his popular radio address 'Mann ki Baat' had said that Yoga is the only thing that is uniting the world.

"June 21 has become one of the known dates across the world. The entire worlds celebrate International Yoga day. In very short span of time the message of yoga has spread in every corner of the world. Yoga is integrating the world today. Through Yoga, India as a whole has successfully started connecting the world," the Prime Minister said in his 32nd ' Mann Ki Baat' address.

The world will celebrate the third International Yoga Day on June 21. It is celebrated annually since its inception in 2015.

An International day for Yoga was declared unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 11 December 2014 

With ANI inputs