PM Modi, UP CM and others explain the need and importance of Yoga

Lucknow: The International Yoga Day was Friday observed across Uttar Pradesh, with Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attending the main programme in the state capital.

The main programme was held at the Raj Bhawan in the state capital. BJP state vice-president Vidyasagar Sonkar said International Yoga Day functions have been organised across the state and in almost all districts.

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UP ministers joined the functions in their respective districts.

Appealing to people to take yoga to all sections of society, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said yoga is above everything, as he performed various asanas with around 40,000 enthusiasts at the Prabhat Tara ground here to mark the fifth International Day of Yoga.

Modi also urged people to make yoga an integral part of life.

"We should make efforts to take yoga from cities to villages and tribal areas. Yoga is above religion, caste, colour, gender and region, it is above everything," he told the gathering.

The main event for the yoga day was held at the Jharkhand capital.

"It (yoga) is constant and evolving for centuries. The essence of yoga has been stable and remained the same -- healthy body, stable mind, spirit of oneness. Yoga has provided a perfect blend of knowledge, karma and bhakti," the prime minister said.

Events to mark the day are being held across the globe and in India, several of them are being led by Union ministers, including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.

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Modi also said the government has been working to make yoga a pillar of preventive healthcare.

Expressing concern that young people are becoming vulnerable to heart ailments, Modi said, "Yoga can play a huge role in tackling the issue and hence, this year's theme is 'Yoga for Heart'."

"It is painful to read about alcoholism, substance abuse, diabetes and other things, adding yoga offers a solution to these problems," he added.

He stressed that for yoga to become popular, infrastructure for it must be strengthened and said the government was working towards it.

"Peace and harmony are related to yoga. People across the world must practice it," Modi said.

The prime minister had arrived here Thursday night.

On his way out of the venue, Modi shook hands with several participants, including school children, who reached out to the prime minister over barricades.

The International Day of Yoga is being celebrated annually on June 21 since 2015.

Home Minister Amit Shah, too participated in a Yoga day function here and said Yoga is showing the world the way towards a healthy life.

Shah participated in the Yoga day function here along with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar besides others.

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"Yoga is the symbol of India's ancient history and diversity which is showing the world the way towards a healthy life," he tweeted after the event.

Shah said it was due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the world is now not only observing Yoga day but making Yoga a part of their everyday lives.

The home minister also addressed the gathering and spoke about the significance of Yoga in people's lives.