PM Modi leads International Yoga Day celebrations

Prime Minister Narender Modi on Tuesday joined over 30,000 people in Chandigarh for the second International Yoga Day celebrations. UN declared June 21 as International Yoga Day on December 11, 2014. PM Modi suggested this in his address to the UN General Assembly and the idea was supported by 177 member states, which adopted it without a vote.Addressing people at the Capitol Complex before the beginning of the mass yoga event, PM Modi highlighted the importance of yoga and said that yoga has connected all the people of the nation.

PM Modi doing yoga on second International Yoga Day

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today joined over 30,000 people here for the second International Yoga Day celebrations as he pitched for treating diseases like diabetes through the ancient spiritual discipline.

PM Narendra Modi

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Modi, dressed in a white-coloured t-shirt and trouser along with a scarf, led over 30,000 participants, including defence forces personnel and school children, for the second International Day of Yoga celebrations here at the Capitol Complex amid tight security.

PM Narendra Modi

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Over 30,000 people from all ages -- 10,000 each from Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana—performed yoga ‘asanas’ on pink and blue coloured mats during the event. Separately, about 10,000 people also performed yoga at over 100 other locations in Chandigarh itself.

Narendra Modi

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Earlier addressing the gathering, Modi pitched for treating diabetes through yoga. “I want to request trainers who are associated with yoga, from this public platform. From next year when we celebrate yoga day, in this one year, you continue to do what you do for yoga but focus on one subject and this is my subject— diabetes—Diabetes and yoga,” he said.

PM Narendra Modi

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Expressing concern over rising number of patients suffering from diabetes, Modi asked yoga trainers to help in controlling the disease.

PM Narendra Modi

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“In India, patients suffering from diabetes are rising. We might be able to get rid of this disease or not but with the help of yoga, diabetes can be controlled. Can we start a public campaign to suggest measures in yoga to the common man suffering from diabetes.

PM Narendra Modi

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“India has given invaluable heritage to the world as we celebrate the second International Yoga Day. The world has accepted it in their way. Today from Indian government side, I am going to announce two awards. Next year, when yoga day will be celebrated on June 21, then from India, there will be a selection for two awards,” Modi said.

PM Narendra Modi

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After performing Yoga, the Prime Minister mingled with the people at the event, some of whom even took selfies with him. He also met handicapped participants during the event.

PM Narendra Modi

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For the main event, the emphasis this year was on the participation of ‘Divyangs’ (handicapped persons), a term coined by Prime Minister Modi for the differently-abled.

PM Narendra Modi

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Punjab and Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, who is also Union Territory Chandigarh’a Administrator, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar were among those present at the event.