New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind performed yoga on Tuesday at the Rashtrapati Bhawan premises on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. Kovind said yoga was India's gift to humantiy and it was a holistic approach to health and well-being, balancing mind, body and soul. The President also urged everyone to make yoga a part of their daily life and experience its benefits.
"Yoga is a part of our ancient Indian heritage. India's gift to humanity, it is a holistic approach to health and well-being, balancing our mind, body and soul. I urge everyone to make Yoga a part of your daily life and experience its benefits," President Kovind tweeted.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan also shared pictures of the President practising Yoga along with others on Twitter.
Leading the main event of the International Day of Yoga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed asanas (exercise) along with thousands of participants in the backdrop of the iconic Mysuru Palace in Karnataka. PM Modi said yoga brings peace to our universe and gave the hope of a healthy life to humanity.
"Yoga brings peace for us, the peace from Yoga is not only for individuals, Yoga brings peace to our society, nation, the world and the universe," PM Modi said. "Yoga today is not just a part of life, but is becoming the way of life, and it should not be limited to any particular time or place," PM Modi further said.
This year, the theme was "Yoga for Humanity". The theme portrays how yoga served humanity in alleviating suffering during the Covid pandemic. The major attraction of the IDY celebrations was the "Guardian Ring", a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate Yoga's unifying power that surpasses national boundaries.