Continuous drizzle failed to dampen spirits as thousands of enthusiasts came together to perform yoga here on the the third International Yoga Day on Wednesday.
At the centre of the performance was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who performed multiple asanas or yogic postures even as the weather conditions threatened to spoil the show.
"Yoga has connected the world with India," Mr. Modi said at the event held here at the sprawling Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan.
Stressing that yoga was about "wellness" and a "health insurance," Mr. Modi, who was sporting the white Yoga Day T-shirt, urged people to make Yoga a part of their daily lives.
"In addition to health and fitness, wellness is important. Yoga is a medium to achieve wellness," Mr. Modi said in his brief address.
Around 50,000 people were estimated to have attended the event, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Ram Naik along with other UP dignitaries performed complex asanas. The session started early at 6:30 am and was concluded around 8 am. The session went about smoothly but there were reports of yoga mats being whisked away from the venue by some of the practioneers.
Praising the impact of the International Day of Yoga, in the last three years, Mr. Modi said a large number of yoga institutes had developed, the demand for yoga teachers increased in India as well as globally and a large number of youth were choosing to be trained as yoga professionals.
"Yoga has become a part of so many lives. Yoga's popularity outside India is high and has connected the world with India." Mr. Modi said.
The Prime Minister also said that yoga had created a "job market globally," and pointed out that attempts were being to standardize the practice across the world.
Mr. Modi also used the analogy of salt to talk about the significance of yoga, saying just like salt added taste to food, yoga ensured the well-being of a person.
Three years ago, Mr. Modi persuaded the United Nations to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day.
