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3rd International Yoga Day: PM Modi, UP CM Yogi to perform Yoga in Lucknow; 180 countries set to celebrate
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be performing Yoga along with 51,000 participants in Lucknow.
New Delhi, June 21: Embracing the mantra for a healthy life through Yoga, citizens of more than 180 countries across the World are celebrating the International Day of Yoga 2017 today. After the declaration to commemorate the International Day of Yoga annually by the United Nations Organisation in 2014, the day became a sensation amidst the people related to different races, ethnicities and languages to celebrate it globally. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with over 51,000 people will perform Yoga in Lucknow on Yoga Day.
Besides the Yoga enthusiasts, several dignitaries, politicians and bureaucrats are expected to gather at Lucknow’s Ramabhai Ambedkar Sabha Sthal, where the Yoga rehearsals have been going on for over a month now. According to the Ayush Ministry, the programme will start at 6 a.m. today.
Apart from the national capital, every state would organise the International Yoga Day events at all levels. Delhi will host such events at seven places. These are being planned in association with New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Yoga organisations.
According to the Ayush Ministry, the locations of these events are Connaught Place (NDMC), Nehru Park (NDMC), Lodhi Garden (NDMC), Talkatora Garden (NDMC), Dwarka (DDA), Rohini (DDA) and Khureji (DDA).
“The DDA would be doing it at Dwarka, Rohini and Khureji. Brahma Kumaris have come forward to organise a mass Yoga demonstration at the Red Fort,” said Ayush Secretary C.K. Mishra. Government institutions such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will also hold an event to mark the day with faculty members and students performing Yoga.
To familiarise citizens with Yoga, the Ayush Ministry had started one-month free yoga camp through the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy in almost every district of the country. The training programme started on May 21.
Yoga Day – A global phenomenon
The resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly emphasised all member states to observe it as per national priorities. The resolution read, “wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practising yoga would be beneficial for the health of the world population”.
Keeping the spirit of the resolution, Permanent Mission of India to United Nations decided to put the theme ‘Yoga for Health’ for this year’s celebrations. The theme reflects the fact wider dissemination of information about the benefits of practising yoga would be beneficial for the health of the world population.
Indian missions in the Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States, among other countries, will hold programmes on Yoga with participants from various sections of the society.
The Indian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago has already announced 12-day activities to mark the International Yoga Day, which includes 108 Surya Namaskars among others.
“Yoga is over 6,000 years old and an invaluable part of Indian ancient tradition,” said High Commissioner Bishwadip Dey.
Similarly, the Netherlands and the US also will be holding programmes on June 21. Some of the events have already been conducted. In the Netherlands, the largest ever Yoga event was held with participation of over 1,000 people.
In order to make it a grand success in India, Ministry of Ayush conducted a nationwide pledge which received huge support. Its website suggests more than 44 lakh people took the pledge to make yoga part of their daily life.
Yoga Day 2015 till now
The first International Yoga Day function held on June 21, 2015, at Rajpath in the national capital witnessed Narendra Modi performing Yoga along with over 200 million people across the country and over 37,000 people in Delhi alone.
The second edition was held in Chandigarh with the participation of over 30,000 people in the presence of the Prime Minister.
(With inputs from IANS)
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