International Yoga Day highlights: Yoga session held at world's highest railway bridge in J-K

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday conveyed his best wishes to the people of India on the 9th International Yoga Day, and said that yoga is not just a few asanas, instead it is related to Karma, Jnana and Bhakti.

Rajnath Singh along with Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar performed yoga on board INS Vikrant on International Yoga Day on Wednesday.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday said yoga is "Bharat's civilizational contribution" to the world.

Yoga is not limited to physical exercise but is essentially a holistic way of life, the RSS said in a tweet on the occasion of the International Yoga Day.

It is the duty of all the yoga followers to further spread this message of yoga far and wide across the continents, it said.

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi on Wednesday said the Yoga Day event in Surat has set a "new Guinness World Record" for the largest gathering of people for a yoga session at one place.

More than one lakh people took part in the event and broke the previous record, Sanghavi said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said it was a matter of pride for India that yoga was being celebrated globally as it shows the world is acknowledging the country's rich culture and also adopting it.

Singh was speaking to the media after joining hundreds of Navy personnel on board INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier here, to participate in the yoga celebrations on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar on Wednesday called upon the countrymen and people across the globe to adopt yoga for unity in the world.

The national celebration of the 9th International Day of Yoga 2023 was led by Dhankhar in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur city.

The vice president and other dignitaries took part in collective yoga programme on the theme 'Vasudhaiv Kutumbukam Ke Liye Yoga' held at the Garrison Ground here.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Wednesday participated in the ninth International Yoga Day celebrations in Kolkata along with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and officials of the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC).

Following the program, the Governor said that yoga has united the East and the West. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be participating in a yoga program at the United Nations headquarter where he had said that yoga is the way to the world.

Police personnel perform yoga at Bandra Reclamation Sealink Promenade on the occasion of World Yoga day in Mumbai.

It is the ninth year since the UN recognised June 21 as the International Day of Yoga through a resolution in 2014.

Tribal Affairs Ministry’s Tribal Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (TRIFED), a national-level cooperative body mandated to bring about socio-economic development of tribals of the country, has procured the yoga mats adorned with designs and motifs representative of various tribal communities.

Yoga strengthens such feelings, expands the inner vision, and connects us with that consciousness which makes us feel the unity of the living being giving a basis of love for the living being, PM Modi said.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Wednesday, participated in the International Yoga Day programme with inmates at Bhopal Central Jail.

Every year International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 worldwide. It serves as a platform to raise awareness about the numerous benefits of yoga and promote its holistic approach to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.