Prime minister Narendra Modi participated in the main Yoga Day celebrations in Ranchi where he took part in the demonstration
Prime minister Narendra Modi led the International Yoga Day celebrations in Ranchi today, as he participated in a mass yoga demonstration.
“Let our motto be Yoga for peace, harmony and progress”, exhorted the Prime Minister as he commenced his address, shortly before the Yoga session. Greeting everyone on the occasion, he complimented media personnel, and those associated with social media, for the key role they have played in spreading the message of Yoga.
The Prime Minister said that he now wants to take the message of modern Yoga, from the cities to the villages, and to the homes of the poor and tribal communities. He emphasized that Yoga must become part of the lives of the poor and the tribals, because they suffer the most on account of illness. Modi has been instrumental in the designation of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, first observed in 2015 but has since become an important event in the international calendar.
He emphasized that Yoga must become part of the lives of the poor and the tribals, because they suffer the most on account of illness. Modi has been instrumental in the designation of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga
The Prime Minister said that today, with changing times, our focus should be on wellness too, besides preventing illness. He said Yoga can give us this strength. He said this is the spirit of Yoga, and of ancient Indian philosophy.
The Prime Minister said: “Yoga is not accomplished merely by the activities that we perform for a while on the ground or the mat. Yoga implies discipline and dedication, and this must be practiced throughout our lives. Yoga transcends the barriers of age, colour, caste, community, thought, sect, rich or poor, State, and border. It  belongs to everyone. From drawing rooms to board rooms, parks to sports complexes, and streets to wellness centres, Yoga has caught the imagination of people.”
Modi said that Yoga is both ancient and modern. It is constant and evolving, he added. For centuries, the essence of Yoga has remained the same: healthy body, stable mind, spirit of oneness, the Prime Minister said. Yoga provides a perfect blend of knowledge, work and devotion, he said.
He emphasised that as the world adopts Yoga, we should lay stress on research related to the subject. He said Yoga should connect with disciplines such as medicine, physiotherapy, and artificial intelligence.
