New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) Yoga has found global acceptance since 2015 and it not only improves people's health but also contributes to a more fulfilling life, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said on Saturday.
Leading a mass yoga demonstration at Kartavya Path here on the occasion of the 11th International Day of Yoga, he said it is a moment of pride that people have gathered to celebrate this Indian "knowledge system".
It is due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts that the International Day of Yoga is being celebrated internationally today, Nadda said.
"During his address to the UN General Assembly in 2014, the prime minister had proposed that yoga be celebrated internationally every year on 21st June, which was backed by over 170 countries.
"Since 2015, yoga has found global acceptance as a holistic approach to well-being. Yoga not only improves people's health and fitness but also enhances mental clarity and emotional regulation, contributing to a more balanced and fulfilling life," Nadda said.
The 11th International Day of Yoga will witness crores of people performing yoga across the country, he said.
"It is a moment of pride that we all are gathered here to celebrate this ancient Indian knowledge system, uplift our body and mind in the process and understand ourselves better through the gift of yoga," he added.
Nadda said yoga has been included under the National Health Policy 2017 to offer a more holistic and accessible approach to healthcare.
A new Centre for Integrative Medicine and Research has been set up at AIIMS Delhi to provide integrative solutions encompassing traditional medical systems like yoga and modern medicines to address health concerns, he said.
The minister appealed to all participants to make yoga part of their daily life and work towards a healthy nation.
According to an official statement, Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav said, "Yoga is a celebration of the universal consciousness that comes from the soul of India and has not only touched millions of lives but has also paved a lasting path for global health and collective peace." In the last 10 years, India, under the leadership of PM Modi, has established yoga not just as an exercise or alternative medicine but as a way of life.
This is the era of moving forward by combining the spiritual depth, scientific authenticity and social harmony of yoga, Jadhav said.
Union Minister of Health Anupriya Singh Patel said, "Yoga is an invaluable gift of Indian culture, which has given the whole world the direction to live a healthy life. This is a wonderful science that connects body, mind and soul."
(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)