Dehradun, June 21: In a run to celebrate International Day of Yoga 2018,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday performed Yoga with over 50,000 enthusiasts at the Forest Research Institute campus in Dehradun. Greeting yoga enthusiasts across the world today, the Prime Minister said that yoga has become the biggest mass movement and it has shown the world the path from illness to wellness.

In his address, PM Modi said the ancient Indian discipline has emerged as the most powerful unifying force in a strife-torn world. The Prime Minister reached the Forest Research Institute campus around 6:30 am and addressed the gathering. Soon after, he began performing yoga along with those assembled there.

Narendra Modi on International day of Yoga  (Photo: PIB)
Narendra Modi on International day of Yoga  (Photo: PIB)
Narendra Modi on International day of Yoga  (Photo: PIB)
Narendra Modi on International day of Yoga (Photo: PIB)

Key Highlights of PM Modi address at the Forest Research Institute:

  1. Addressing the large gathering in the backdrop of the iconic British-era building of FRI, Modi said yoga has shown the world the way from "illness to wellness" and enriching lives across the globe.

  2. PM Modi said, "In today's fast-changing time, Yoga binds together a person body, brain and soul, hence making one experience a feeling of peace".

  3. Modi said, the world has embraced Yoga and glimpses of this can be seen in the manner in which International Day of Yoga has been marked every year. "Yoga Day has become one of the biggest mass movements in the quest for good health and well-being", he said.

  4. "Dehradun to Dublin, Shanghai to Chicago, Jakarta to Johannesburg, Himalayan highlands or sunburnt deserts, Yoga is enriching millions of lives all over the world", he added.

  5. In his address, Modi said that Yoga fosters amity in societies which can form the basis of national unity. He said the proposal for the Yoga Day at the UN was accepted in record time with a majority of nations supporting it.

  6. Today people all over the world have come to look upon yoga as something which belongs to them, Modi said. He also asked people to learn to honour their own legacy and heritage if they wanted the rest of the world to respect them.

  7. "Instead of dividing, yoga unites. Instead of further animosity, yoga assimilates. Instead of increasing suffering, yoga heals," he said. Modi said yoga presents a ray of hope for future of the world. "Yoga is beautiful because it is ancient yet modern, it is constant yet evolving," he said.

PM Modi, who arrived in Dehradun late last evening, was welcomed at the airport by Uttarakhand Governor Krishna Kant Paul, Chief Minister TS Rawat and a host of other leaders and officials.

 

Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Suresh Prabhu, Uma Bharti, Ram Vilas Paswan, Ravi Shankar Prasad will take part in yoga events in Lucknow, Nagpur, Chennai, Rudraprayag, Hajipur and Patna respectively. Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu will be present in Mumbai at a yoga event organized by a non-profit run by BJP's Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will also be present on the occasion.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 21, 2018 09:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).