Millions across India, world take part in Yoga Day exercises

Published June 21, 2015
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs yoga with others during a yoga camp to mark the International Day of Yoga, in New Delhi, India, June 21, 2015. ─ Reuters
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs yoga with others during a yoga camp to mark the International Day of Yoga, in New Delhi, India, June 21, 2015. ─ Reuters
Guinness World Recocrds Representatives Marco Frigatti (L) and Victoris Julie Tweedy talk to each other as Indian yoga practitioners prepare to take part in a mass yoga session to mark the International Yoga Day in New Delhi. ─ AFP
Guinness World Recocrds Representatives Marco Frigatti (L) and Victoris Julie Tweedy talk to each other as Indian yoga practitioners prepare to take part in a mass yoga session to mark the International Yoga Day in New Delhi. ─ AFP
Participants perform yoga to mark the International Day of Yoga under the Eiffel tower in Paris, France. ─ Reuters
Participants perform yoga to mark the International Day of Yoga under the Eiffel tower in Paris, France. ─ Reuters
Taiwanese perform yoga poses at the start of International Yoga Day in Taipei, Taiwan. ─ AP
Taiwanese perform yoga poses at the start of International Yoga Day in Taipei, Taiwan. ─ AP
An Indian yoga teacher leads National Cadet Corps (NCC) members as they perform yoga on the banks of the river Ganga in the Jhusi area, at Kriyayoga Ashram in Allahabad. on June 21, 2015. ─ AFP
An Indian yoga teacher leads National Cadet Corps (NCC) members as they perform yoga on the banks of the river Ganga in the Jhusi area, at Kriyayoga Ashram in Allahabad. on June 21, 2015. ─ AFP
An Indian girl, left, displays a picture of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi painted on her face as another sports the logo of International Yoga Day in Bangalore, India. ─ AP
An Indian girl, left, displays a picture of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi painted on her face as another sports the logo of International Yoga Day in Bangalore, India. ─ AP
Yoga enthusiasts perform yoga during International Day of Yoga in Bangalore. ─ AFP
Yoga enthusiasts perform yoga during International Day of Yoga in Bangalore. ─ AFP
A child performs yoga at a hotel banquet hall to mark the International Yoga Day, in China. ─ AP
A child performs yoga at a hotel banquet hall to mark the International Yoga Day, in China. ─ AP
Thousands of people participate in a yoga exercise in Thailand. ─ AP
Thousands of people participate in a yoga exercise in Thailand. ─ AP
Afghans and foreigners perform yoga during the first International Yoga Day, at the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. ─ AP
Afghans and foreigners perform yoga during the first International Yoga Day, at the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. ─ AP
A Malaysian boy is seen playing during the International Day of Yoga festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ─ AP
A Malaysian boy is seen playing during the International Day of Yoga festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ─ AP
Nepalese people take part in a yoga session to mark International Yoga Day in Kathmandu. ─ AFP
Nepalese people take part in a yoga session to mark International Yoga Day in Kathmandu. ─ AFP

NEW DELHI: Millions of yoga enthusiasts bent and twisted their bodies in complex postures across India and much of the world on Sunday to mark the first International Yoga Day.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had lobbied the United Nations to declare June 21 as the global Yoga Day, spread his mat among rows of people, including his Cabinet members and foreign diplomats, at New Delhi's main thoroughfare that has been transformed into one sprawling exercise ground.

Tens of thousands of schoolchildren, bureaucrats, homemakers, soldiers and ordinary folk took part in the exercise, which was repeated in all Indian state capitals.

In Modi's home state of Gujarat, public yoga events were organized at nearly 30,000 places, state officials said.

“We are not only celebrating a day, but we are training the human mind to begin a new era of peace and harmony,” Modi told participants.

“This is a program for the benefit of mankind, for a tension-free world and to spread the message of harmony."

In Taipei, more than 2,000 participants rolled out mats and performed 108 rounds of the “sun salutation” ─ the sequence of yoga poses often practised at the beginning of a routine as the sun rises.

“They give themselves a piece of time to observe their mind and their heart, which I think in the modern society we need a lot,” said practitioner Angela Hsi.

Fazel Shah, an Indian pilot working for a Middle Eastern airline, rushed from the airport on his stopover in Taiwan to join the event.

“Isn't it awesome? I mean, just look at the number of people who are here, embracing it,” he said.

He said yoga was probably born in India but belongs anywhere. “If you go up from where I am and look from the sky down, you don't see borders, you don't see religions, you don't see nationalities, you just see one group of people. So, I just go down and meet up with them, that's all”.

Similar events were held in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and other places.

Read more: Twist and chant: India gears up for Modi's Yoga Day

Many believe that yoga, the ancient form of exercise, is the best way to calm the mind and the best form of exercise for the body.

Indian officials said more than 35,000 people participated in the New Delhi event that was also an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest single yoga class at a single venue.

Guinness representatives said they hired more than 1,500 members of a global accounting firm to count the number of participants at the Delhi venue.

India's Defense Ministry said that soldiers on the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battleground in the Himalayas, and naval cadets on navy ships at sea also would be participating in the Yoga Day events.

Although Modi's message was one of peace and harmony, many in India were concerned that the push for yoga was an attempt by Hindu groups to give a boost to Hinduism.

In the run-up to Yoga Day, many Muslims objected to the government's exhortations to join in the public exercise programs.

Some Muslim leaders said yoga was a Hindu practice. The government quickly dropped a plan for the “sun salutation” exercise, which many Muslims found objectionable because it implied the sun was a deity. Also dropped was the Hindu “om” chant.

Some Christian groups were upset that the mass yoga sessions were being held at a time when they usually attend Sunday Mass.

Others were sceptical about the time and money spent by the government on Yoga Day.

“The government organizes these hyped-up events,” said Sumita Rani, a primary school teacher in South Delhi. “Last year was the Clean India Campaign. What came of it? This city is as filthy as ever."

Read more: India PM Modi's yoga offensive gets Muslims stressed

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