Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the >International Yoga Day on June 21 at India Gate, New Delhi.
>Delhi turned into a large yoga mat on Sunday , when the entire Rajpath had volunteers performing yoga along with the Prime Minister.
Mr. Modi said this was not just a daylong celebration but the beginning of an era of peace and harmony. Marvelling over the recognition that International Yoga Day had brought upon this ancient Indian tradition, he thanked the comity of nations for making it possible and joining India by organising similar events world over.
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Other prominent personalities who joined Mr. Modi in attempting the record included the warring duo of Delhi politics – Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung – besides some members of Parliament from Delhi.
The International Yoga Day celebration drew enthusiastic response in many countries. Sri Sri Ravishankar’s The Art of Living also organised yoga camp on the occasion. Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Yoga Centre had also arranged a mass programme. Indian Army and Coast Guard also held yoga camps on June 21.
Mr. Modi said that though yoga originated in India, it is a collective gift to humanity.
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International Yoga Day
As it happened
>PM leads India's effort at setting Guinness record
Mr. Modi said this was not just a daylong celebration but the beginning of an era of peace and harmony.
>PM Modi cautions against ‘commodifying’ yoga
The Prime Minister also said yoga is a medium to check greed, violence, cost of health care and conflicts.
>Pakistan should rethink its stance on yoga: Ravi Shankar Prasad
He rubbished claims that yoga represented a particular religion and said yoga represents brotherhood and peace.
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'Yoga Day is a dimensional shift in the sense that in pursuit of well-being, we can begin to look inwards. Your well-being need not be in someone else’s hands, it means every individual taking their fundamental well-being in their own hands.'
The story of yoga
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H.S. Arun, a disciple of B.K.S Iyengar, speaks of the true nature of yoga.
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>Looking back: an English encounter
English yoga teacher Barry Chapple talks about his interaction with his guru the late BKS Iyengar in England. "He was charismatic and charming and enthralled us with his witty conversation. His use of English was good and distinctive; he did seem to favour certain words, repeating them often; for example ‘intelligence’.”