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

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday participated in the national programme of International Yoga Day being organised in Jabalpur district and said that being healthy is also the biggest service to the nation.

On the occasion, Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, MP governor Mangubhai Patel and other prominent personalities also participated in the national yoga programme.

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 International Day of Yoga.

"I thank PM for organising this grand event of Yoga. The main Yoga event in the country is being held here in the Jabalpur. PM has done the work of spreading yoga to the world," says Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel in Madhya Pradesh:

Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Wednesday performed Yoga on the occasion of 9th International Yoga Day at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Gurugram.

Speaking to media persons ahead of PM Modi's mega yoga programme at the United Nations today, Nadda said, "Today, PM Narendra Modi will celebrate Yoga Day at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York. He will send a message to the whole world from there, this is a proud and blessed moment for us."

Yoga day led by Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, commander in chief, Western Naval Command in Mumbai. 

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday said yoga has become India's "soft power" as he marked the International Day of Yoga by leading a session with hundreds of participants at AIIMS, New Delhi.

Recognising its universal appeal, in December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by a resolution. The day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga.

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra led the celebrations at the Raj Bhavan here to mark the International Day of Yoga on Wednesday.

Mishra, who was joined by Raj Bhavan officers and other staff members, performed 'asanas' such as 'bhastrika', 'kapalbhati', 'nulom vilom' and 'bhramari', a spokesperson said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said transforming the practice of yoga into a people's movement was the need of the hour to tackle stress and lifestyle changes.

Shinde was speaking after participating in the International Yoga Day events at the Gateway of India, the state secretariat and the Vidhan Bhavan here.

Parts of Delhi recorded brief but intense showers on Wednesday morning, with celebrations for International Yoga Day being partially disrupted for a brief period. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said main was primarily seen in southwest, west and parts of north Delhi between 5:30 and 7:30 am, with gusty winds also seen during this spell – a result of moisture in the atmosphere from the weakening cyclone Biparjoy.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia performs Yoga at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, in Delhi

Chandigarh residents perform Yoga on the occasion of International Yoga day at Rock Garden.