CHANDIGARH: On the occasion of the 2nd International Day of Yoga on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed participants here and insisted that yoga has nothing to do with religion and even an atheist can practice it.
He said that people from all religions and communities generally lay stress on what will we gain after death if we perform rituals or pray in our lifetime, but yoga helps us benefit while we are alive.
Modi was joined by 30,500 participants from Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana to practice yoga.
Mentioning the increase in diabetes cases over the years, Modi also highlighted that yoga should be used to cure diabetes. He added that every year, an ailment will be picked, which can be controlled with help of yoga.
Mo di said by the next International Yoga Day, yoga instructors should try helping diabetes patients.
Highlighting its medical benefits, Modi said gynaecologists also recommend pregnant women to practice yoga.
He announced two awards as an incentive for organisations or people who will work towards promoting yoga by next year. One award will be on the international level and the other on a national level.
The PM highlighted that yoga was an upcoming industry and that yoga trainers had a bright future. He said yoga is practised around the world and desired for more Yoga teachers to be produced from India.
{{/usCountry}}The PM highlighted that yoga was an upcoming industry and that yoga trainers had a bright future. He said yoga is practised around the world and desired for more Yoga teachers to be produced from India.
{{/usCountry}}Nearly 7,500 people also performed yoga at over 100 other locations in Chandigarh itself.
The Indian government has started working in alliance with World Health Organisation(WHO) to decide the protocol and parameters to promote yoga globally.