Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga by leading a mass yoga session at Kolkata's historic Red Road, where he described yoga as a "powerful force" that unites people across communities and countries. Thousands of participants joined the event, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for yoga and its role in promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Yoga Day Theme: Healthy Ageing
This year's theme, "Yoga for Healthy Ageing," emphasized the importance of yoga in maintaining health and vitality at every stage of life. In his address, PM Modi said yoga helps people preserve physical vitality, mental strength, and resilience against lifestyle diseases as they age. He set ambitious targets: "Our target must be to be more flexible at 40 than we were at 20. Our target must be more energetic at 50 than we were at 30. Our target must be to be more resistant to lifestyle diseases at 70 than we were at 50. This is where Yoga can help us."
Global Movement and Unity
The Prime Minister noted that yoga has become a global movement connecting humanity. "The entire nation, world, seems connected. This is the power of yoga. Yoga connects everyone, brings everyone together," he said, extending greetings to the global community. He stressed that yoga should not be confined to a single day but integrated into daily life, families, and future generations.
Drawing from West Bengal's cultural heritage, PM Modi invoked Rabindranath Tagore's philosophy of human connection, stating that yoga embodies the idea of linking individuals with the world around them. He also thanked the people of Kolkata for their hospitality and praised the cleanliness drives held across the city in preparation for the event.
Nationwide Participation
International Yoga Day was marked across India with senior leaders joining celebrations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in a yoga session in Ahmedabad, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar joined an event at Delhi's Nehru Park. Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and JP Nadda also took part, highlighting yoga's growing global popularity.
The International Day of Yoga is observed annually on June 21, following the United Nations' adoption of India's proposal in 2014 with support from 175 member states. The first celebration took place in 2015, and the event has since evolved into a worldwide movement promoting health, wellness, and harmony.
