Leading the event in Srinagar for the International Day of Yoga celebrations on Friday was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who highlighted the growing importance of yoga as a positive force in the world. Speaking to the country from the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Prime Minister Modi stated that an increasing number of people worldwide are adopting yoga.
“Yoga is viewed by many as a potent force for good in the world. PM Modi said, “Yoga helps us live in the present moment without the baggage of the past.”
Enthusiasm persisted even after the event was rescheduled from the grounds of SKICC on the shores of Dal Lake to an inside venue owing to persistent rain. “I extend greetings to the people of the country and those performing yoga in every corner of the world on Yoga Day,” PM Modi stated.
According to PM Modi, yoga has become a regular part of life for a large number of people globally. “The number of people who do yoga is steadily rising. Almost every (international) leader I meet talks to me about the advantages of yoga,” the speaker stated.
On the occasion of International Yoga Day’s tenth anniversary, the Prime Minister reminisced about how, when he first presented the idea to the UN in 2014, 177 countries supported it.
With Modi showcasing the history of International Yoga Day from its genesis to its current worldwide importance, the day keeps breaking records. “Since then, Yoga Day has been creating new records,” he said.
In reference to the increasing global trend of yoga practitioners, he ascribed this development to the discipline’s ability to promote inner tranquilly and improve society.
“When we are peaceful within, we can also make a positive impact on the world…Yoga is making new ways of positive change in society,” he stated.
PM Modi used 101-year-old Frenchwoman Charlotte Chopin as an example of how yoga has spread around the world. Chopin received the Padma Shri for her contributions to the spread of yoga in her nation.
He also mentioned how yoga helps to increase travel to India. “States like Kerala and Uttarakhand are now experiencing yoga tourism. Since they can witness real yoga, people are travelling to India,” he remarked.
Economic Benefits of Yoga Discussed at Event in Srinagar
The prime minister also mentioned how corporate wellness initiatives and personal yoga instructors are growing in popularity, creating new job opportunities.
Highlighting yoga’s benefits, PM Modi stated that it offers solutions to modern challenges. “Yoga is not only knowledge but it is science as well. In this era of information revolution, there is a flood of information sources and it is a challenge for the human mind to focus on one subject. A solution for this is also in yoga as it helps the mind to focus. That is why from army to sports, yoga has been included in their routine,” he said.
In order to increase tolerance and productivity, PM Modi also noted that yoga is taught to astronauts and people working on space programmes.
PM Modi expressed his happiness with the rising popularity of yoga in Jammu & Kashmir and predicted that this trend will help the travel and tourist industry in the area.
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