PM Modi Leads International Yoga Day Celebrations in Kolkata

Amit Shah, Jaishankar (C) and Rajnath Singh (R)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday led International Yoga Day celebrations from Kolkata's Red Road. He joined thousands of people in a mass yoga session and described June 21 as the day of the "world's largest collective celebration." Several Union ministers, chief ministers and senior leaders also participated on Yoga Day events across the country. Union home minister Amit Shah performed yoga in Ahmedabad, while defence minister Rajnath Singh joined celebrations in Shillong along with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. External affairs minister S Jaishankar participated in a yoga session with thousands of people in Delhi. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took part in Yoga Day celebrations in Guwahati. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis joined a yoga event in Mumbai, while Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath participated in a programme at Jhansi Fort Ground. Speaking at the event in Jhansi, Yogi credited Prime Minister Modi for taking yoga to the global stage. "We are all grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has given global recognition to India's traditions and heritage, and has presented a vision for all of us, enabling 140 crore Indians to move forward with pride in the world, and to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat," Yogi said. Addressing the main Yoga Day programme in Kolkata, PM Modi highlighted this year's theme, "Yoga for Healthy Ageing", and said yoga helps people remain physically active, mentally strong and free from lifestyle diseases as they grow older. "When we speak of Yoga for healthy ageing, it means that we can work to ensure that age doesn't reduce human potential. Yoga can help human life aspire for constant growth. 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," the Prime Minister said. He added that yoga helps improve flexibility, maintain energy levels and promote a calm, stress-free life. PM Modi also spoke about yoga's growing popularity around the world and its ability to bring people together. "In India, from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, from the Northeast and Bengal in the east to Saurashtra in the west, the entire country seems to be filled with the energy of yoga," he said. The Prime Minister said International Yoga Day has transformed June 21 into a global celebration, with people across countries participating in yoga activities.