Millions roll out mats as India & globe celebrate International Yoga Day

New Delhi: Yoga was the mantra and 'asanas' the discipline on Wednesday as millions across the globe and distant corners of India stretched for the skies and dived for their toes, breathed in and out - mindfully - and twisted and turned to celebrate the International Day of Yoga.

The day began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's early morning video message from the US, where he is on a state visit, saying India has always nurtured traditions that unite, adopt and embrace.

"We have to eliminate our contradictions, blockages and resistances through yoga. We have to present the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' as an example to the world," Modi said.

Modi said the day was special this year as researchers at India's research stations in the Arctic and Antarctica were also participating in the celebrations.

And back home, many millions joined in -- from the heights of Ladakh to underwater depths in Kerala, on board the INS Vikrant and in the Vande Bharat Express as it chugged its way from Bhopal to New Delhi, from open expanses to studios, homes and offices. Some rolling out mats against historic, picturesque backdrops such as Parliament and Delhi's Purana Quila, and others adapting to space constraints -- like in the Vande Bharat -- doing asanas that did not require stretching out or practising pranayam on chairs.

Describing yoga as India's great gift to the world, President Droupadi Murmu shared a picture of her doing yoga on Twitter.

National celebrations at Jablapur

The national celebration of the 9th International Day of Yoga was led by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur city.

Terming yoga a symbol of world unity, he asked Indians and people from across the globe to adopt the wellness discipline.

Yoga, the vice president said, has become a universal festival because of India's efforts.

The theme this year is 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbukam' (the world is one family). Taking part in a programme held at the Garrison Ground in Jabalpur, Dhankhar said, "Yoga is not a one day event, but a daily exercise and we should take the resolve to follow it religiously as called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"This day is the day of message of universal brotherhood and it reflects our cultural thinking of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family)," he said in the Madhya Pradesh city.

3,000 persons with disabilities do asanas in Hyd

As many as 3,000 persons with disabilities practised yoga together in an attempt to secure the world record at an event organised to celebrate International Yoga Day on Wednesday, in which Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar took part.

The 'divyangjan' (persons with disabilities) included those with visual impairment, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, and thalassemia from across the country performed yoga in this event.

The mega event was evaluated by the International World Book of Records, Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records for the largest number of persons with performing Yoga, official sources said.

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment A Narayanaswamy also attended the event

Largest gathering in Surat

In neighbouring Gujarat's Surat town, more than one lakh people gathered, which state minister Harsh Sanghavi claimed was a "new Guinness World Record" for the largest gathering of people for a yoga session at one place.

Across the state, an estimated 1.25 crore people took part in the Yoga Day celebrations, said Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel "We witnessed how yoga and pranayam helped people during the coronavirus pandemic," he said.

Yoga at INS Vikrant

Addressing the media in Kochi after joining hundreds of Navy personnel in doing yoga on board INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said it was a matter of pride for India that yoga was being celebrated globally as it shows the world is acknowledging the country's rich culture and also adopting it.

Ministers do Asanas

A host of chief ministers, ministers and governors performed 'asanas' in their respective corners of the country.

In Delhi, for instance, Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri, Mansukh Mandaviya and Piyush Goyal and Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena took part in various events organised in the city.

In Andhra Pradesh, Governor S Abdul Nazeer participated in the day's event at the Raj Bhavan and said yoga reduces stress.

G20 delegates at Goa

In Goa's capital city Panaji, delegates gathered for the G-20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting performed various 'asanas' in the Raj Bhavan Wearing matching t-shirts bearing the G20 logo, 'GOA' and 'Yoga for Harmony & Peace', delegates from Australia, Germany, Italy and South Korea, as well as several tourism ministry officials performed some of the common yoga protocols under the guidance of an instructor.

Dieter Janecek, head of the German delegation to the G20 meetings in Goa, said yoga is popular in Germany too and it can help further cooperation between the two countries.

Congress leaders share Nehru photo

The day was not without some political controversy. The opposition Congress remembered India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, saying he was instrumental in popularising yoga and even made it a part of national policy.

It also also shared a photograph of Nehru performing yoga and doing a headstand.

Inputs from PTI