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

Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha Wednesday described yoga as India's greatest gift to humanity which brings happiness in people's lives.

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said that yoga is India's gift to the world. She also performed yoga at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K T Parnaik (Retd) on Wednesday appealed to the people of the state to practice yoga regularly for a healthier lifestyle.

Participating in the International Yoga Day at Raj Bhavan here, he said yoga helps in improving physical strength and confidence and also has a positive and calming effect on the practitioners.

"Yoga has remedies for every illness. Yoga brings peace of mind, inculcates self-discipline and ensures physical and mental wellness," the governor said.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leading the Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters symbolises India's growing strength and increasing relevance on the world stage.

"Our beloved PM will be leading the Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters. This symbolises India's growing strength, increasing relevance on the world stage," Piyush Goyal said on the occasion of the ninth International Yoga Day.

Passengers travelling from Bhopal to Delhi on Vande Bharat Express on Wednesday performed Yoga on the train on the occasion of 9th International Yoga Day.

Yoga guru Krishna Kant Mishra guided the passengers to do yoga in sitting postures in every coach of the train on the occasion.

Mishra said, "I want to give the message of International Yoga Day by performing some yoga asana in sitting posture with the passengers of Vande Bharat. The initiative of Yoga Day was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 and the first International Yoga Day was celebrated in 2015. Since then it has been celebrated continuously every year."

Not only Kareena Kapoor but her husband Saif Ali Khan and son Jeh also swear by yoga. On the occasion of International Yoga Day, the 'Veere Di Wedding' actor shared cute family pictures on social media.

Taking to Instagram, Kareena treated fans with an adorable picture of a father and son duo performing yoga.

In the pictures, Saif and Jeh are seen busy doing asanas.

While enthusiasts across the world celebrated International Day of Yoga on Wednesday, at the Prany Camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur a canine member of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) seemed to demonstrate just how the 'downward dog' should be done right!

Positioning himself in front of personnel of the paramilitary force participating in a Yoga Day event here, the dog seemed to be at ease at joining in the poses. A video of the event captured the canine member of the ITBP squad wagging his tail, rolling on the ground and apparently attempting to be "one with the crowd" in performing various asanas. Occasionally it barked perhaps to voice its approval!

"Yoga helps us all to be in a better position to meet the increasing challenges around us. On this day, I urge everyone to adopt yoga in their daily lives and experience its transformative power," Murmu said in her tweet.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel joined the state-level 'International Day of Yoga' celebration in Dumas area of Surat.

In all, 1.25 crore people took part in the Yoga Day celebration at 72,000 venues in the state, Patel said in his address before the commencement of the Yoga Day session.

Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the Yoga Day celebrations at UN headquarters today, the Congress shared the photo of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru doing sirsasana (headstand) and remembered him for being instrumental in 'popularising Yoga and even made it a part of national policy'. Read more

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Wednesday led the International Yoga Day celebrations in the state, performing the 'asanas' with his spouse at Chidambaram.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian, BJP state president K Annamalai and scores of yoga enthusiasts participated in events held in different parts of the state.

"Governor Ravi and Laxmi Ravi performed Yoga along with youth and yoga practitioners at Annamalai University on International Yoga Day2023. The artists put up a scintillating yoga performance showcasing various forms of yoga," a Raj Bhavan official tweet said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been the brainchild behind several initiatives aimed at bringing a fractious world together but it is the International Yoga Day, being observed on Wednesday, that has left an indelible mark globally with its universal acceptance.

This annual event has seen an impressive number of nations coming together to support and participate in yoga activities with the ancient Indian practice emerging as an important public health movement throughout the world.

On International Yoga Day 2023, fitness enthusiast Malaika Arora explained the benefits of practising yoga asanas in daily life.

Taking to Instagram, Malaika dropped a video in which she is seen performing yoga.

"POV: Yoga is, quieting the mind...Yoga, is calming the nerves. Yoga is developing strength, growth and love. Happy International Yoga Day," the text inserted in the video read.

Though Shilpa Shetty is on holiday, it hasn't stopped her from exercising.

As it's International Yoga Day today, Shilpa took to Instagram and dropped a video of her performing yoga against a scenic backdrop.

Alongside the clip, Shilpa urged everyone to make Yoga a part of their life.

"A spark of a smile can spread the fire of happiness around us. But to be able to do so, one needs to be happy within... Make Yoga a part of your lives too, for a healthy mind, body, and soul. As they say, a healthy person is a happy person. Wishing everyone a Happy & Healthy Yoga Day..Atmanamaste," she wrote.

he ninth International Yoga Day was celebrated with great fanfare in many parts of Karnataka on Wednesday.

Thousands of people took part in the event aimed at promoting good health with sound mind. The theme of Yoga Day this year is ‘Yoga – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged everyone to adopt yoga in their daily lives and experience its transformative power.

The president greeted everyone on the International Day of Yoga and said yoga is India's great gift to the rest of the world.

"Greetings to all on the International Day of Yoga! Yoga is one of our civilisation's great accomplishments, and India's great gift to the rest of the world. Yoga brings together the body and the mind and it is a holistic approach to life," she said in a tweet and shared pictures of her doing yoga.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on Wednesday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to lead a yoga session in a historic celebration to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga at the UN Headquarters that will saw participation from top UN officials, envoys from across and the world and prominent individuals.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event held at Noida Indoor Stadium where she performed yoga this morning, the Minister said, "This is a moment of pride for all Indians on the occasion of International Yoga Day as our 'pradhan sevak' (prime servant) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading India's heritage and development through the practice of Yoga at UN Headquarters today."

The theme of this year's International yoga day is Vasudev Kutumbakam

G20 delegates perform Yoga along with Goa Governor PS Shreedharan Pillai, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism and Defence Ajay Bhatt on the occasion of International Yoga Day at Raj Bhawan in Goa on Wednesday.

While addressing the media, Goa Governor PS Shreedharan Pillai said, "The country achieved great success because more than 180 countries and we are observing this day. In the UN also our prime minister is participating. This is for the prosperity of the Indians.

Jharkhand Government's Ministry of Ayush on Wednesday organised a Yoga programme at MECON stadium (Metallurgical & Engineering Consultant Ltd Sail Stadium) in Ranchi to mark the 9th International Yoga Day.

Though Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was scheduled to participate in the Yoga programme, he could not do it due to some personal issue, said officials. Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta was the chief guest at the programme in which hundreds of people took part and performed Yoga.

Yoga is an art of science for healthy living that focusses on bringing harmony between the mind and body, Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer said on Wednesday marking the ninth International Yoga Day.

The Governor participated in the celebrations held at Raj Bhavan and noted that yoga reduces stress.

Yoga has become an integral part of the Indian hockey teams' daily routine and the ancient practice has been beneficial for the players in managing stress and keeping their mind and body fit, said men's side vice-captain Hardik Singh.

Over the past few years, the Indian men and women hockey players have made yoga a part of their practice regime.