Tens of thousands of people joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 21, to celebrate the fourth International Day of Yoga. Modi had pushed for the annual event to be held worldwide after he came to power in 2014. Not only India, countries like Afghanistan, Japan, and Peru also held yoga sessions, with Australia and South Africa celebrating the day on Monday. “From Tokyo to Toronto, from Stockholm to Sao Paulo, Yoga has become a positive influence in the lives of millions. In a world where non-communicable diseases, stress and lifestyle-related ailments are rising, yoga can play a central role in mitigating these diseases to create a healthy mind and body,” Modi said to the 50,000 people who joined him on the lawns of Dehradun's Forest Research Institute in the Himalayan foothills of Uttarakhand.
Several other gatherings took place in New Delhi with 10,000 enthusiasts registered. At least 5,000 events big and small took place across India, but the largest was expected to be in Mysore in the south with over 60,000 taking part. Submarine staff from the India's Eastern Naval Command were pictured doing yoga poses, as were soldiers in Secunderabad. Yoga was also performed on board Indian Navy's INS Sahyadri.
Around 80 people in Tokyo, most in their 60s and 70s, took part in a special yoga session organised through the Indian Embassy in the Zojoji Temple- a two-storey red shrine in the shadow of Tokyo Tower. Other events scheduled around the world included in Ireland, Bahrain, and Milan. Ever since Modi has begun campaigning for Yoga, it has boomed and millions across the world are said to be practising it regularly.
Indian embassies in different nations made sure to be a part of the yoga celebrations. The Embassy of India Budapest celebrated the day in seven cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The celebrations were spread over two days from 16 to 17 June. Programmes included yoga, Indian cultural performances, henna painting and Indian cuisines. Inauguration of the celebrations were done by Dr Irena Hadziabdic, Chief Election Commissioner of Bosnia & Herzegovina and Ambassador Rahul Chhabraon. Also, on the request of Chief Election Commissioner of Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Embassy will be conducting special classes for the staff of Chief Election Commission for stress management.
A grand yoga session organised in Muscat by the Embassy of India witnessed participation of about 5000 persons including citizens, Indians, expatriates, diplomatic corps, and students. Held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, the session began with an address to the Prime Minister of India.
The Embassy of Nepal in Doha held yoga programmes on the premises of the embassy and saw over 100 in attendance. Professor Ramesh Prasad Koirala, Ambassador of Nepal to Qatar, was also present on the occasion and performed yoga postures in the event that lasted an hour. Koirala spoke on the importance of yoga, adding that it is an effective way to fight health problems like gastritis, diabetes and uterus ailments.
