PM Modi bats for yoga as the most powerful unifying force

On 4th International Yoga Day, PM Narendra Modi led 50,000 yoga enthusiasts in performing asanas in Dehradun's Forest Research Institute (FRI) campus. He said the ancient Indian discipline has emerged as the most powerful unifying force in a strife-torn world. "From Dehradun to Dublin, Shanghai to Chicago, Jakarta to Johannesburg yoga has become a positive influence in lives of millions," he said.

PM 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. The prime minister was joined by state chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Union minister of state for Ayush Shripad Naik.

June 21 was declared as the International Day of Yoga in 2014 after PM Modi called for the day to be adopted as a global celebration of yoga, an ancient practice that began in India more than 5,000 years ago.

A series of yoga-related events are also being organised across the world to mark the occasion. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh performs Yoga at the International Yoga Day 2018 celebrations in Jammu.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with Governor of Uttar Praesh Ram Naik and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participating in the 4th International Yoga Day at Raj Bhawan in Lucknow on Thursday.

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis led the Yoga enthusiasts in Bandra reclamation on the occasion of International Yoga Day 2018. Speaking to the participants, Naidu stressed the need to include yoga in school curriculums to "create a healthy nation".

Eastern naval command staff perform yoga on board INS Jyothi in Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam. Eastern Naval Command's submarine staff also participated in International Yoga Day 2018.

Union Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal performing Yoga on International Yoga Day at Noida Stadium in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.