Over 10,000 people celebrated the third International Yoga Day in New Delhi, performing various asanas together at the Central Park of Connaught Place.
School students, teachers, government employees, political leaders, police and paramilitary officials as well as volunteers from NGOs participated in one of the largest yoga day celebrations in the country.
“Thanks to PM Modi, Yoga is now an international art; it’s neither political nor religious. It brings peace, good health & unity,” said Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Information & Broadcasting, M Venkaiah Naidu, while participating in the event organised by the AYUSH Ministry and New Delhi Municipal Corporation.
The event started with the performance of school students.
Lt. Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal; Governor of Goa, Mridula Sinha; Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal; former Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind; Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel and Meenakshi Lekhi also took part in the event.
“It is a matter of pride that our ancient tradition got international acceptance. Yoga is neither political nor religious but a traditional Indian art practiced since times immemorial; it brings peace, good health and unity. Yoga is a science. It aims at the harmonious development of the body, mind and the soul” added Naidu.
The Union Minister also led the yoga day celebrations in Nirman Bhawan where he urged everyone to join the drive.
“Yoga is important for the society. Celebrating yoga and performing it all over the world is to make people aware about the benefits of yoga and inspire them. Yoga is an universal and traditional practice adopted by our forefathers which brings unity among people,” the Minister said.
