By Mubasshir Mushtaq
MUMBAI, India
On the occasion of the first International Yoga Day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday led thousands of people in performing different postures of yoga at New Delhi’s Rajpath, the ceremonial boulevard.
“Today is not just the first-ever International Yoga Day, but the beginning of a new era that would inspire humanity in its quest for peace and harmony,” 64-year-old Modi, a yoga practitioner, told a gathering of approximately 37,000 people.
A sea of colorful mats greeted participants as senior politicians, diplomats, students and soldiers reached the venue early in the morning and demonstrated different postures of the ancient Indian exercise to qualify for a Guinness world record.
“Yoga was not merely an exercise, but offered an opportunity for balancing the mind and body, and could help harness an individual’s inner strength,” Modi said before hitting the mat, a surprise move as the prime minister was only supposed to make a short speech and not participate in the mass session.
Four yoga instructors struck different postures as thousands of participants followed on the 1,400-meter-long ceremonial boulevard. 28 big screens were set up to help participants follow the instructions. Over 8,000 soldiers were deployed to ensure security.
New Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is locked in a political battle with the Modi-led federal government, was also seen participating in the yoga session. Kejriwal told reporters that yoga is a good exercise and everyone should do it.
The mass yoga session lasted for 35 minutes and is likely to help India qualify for the Guinness Book of World Records for the "largest yoga demonstration at a single venue".
The UN declared June 21 as international yoga day after PM Modi appealed to the international body last year.
Around 177 countries participated in marking the first International Yoga Day on Sunday.
“Greetings to people around the world on the first International Day of Yoga! Lets pledge to make yoga an integral part of our daily lives,” Modi tweeted Sunday morning before the mass session began.
Yoga, which finds mention in the ancient Hindu scripture of Vedas, is not immune from controversy.
Last week, certain Muslim organizations objected to the event saying yoga involves chanting of Hindu hymns and the Surya Namaskar [sun salutation], which was said to be against the basic tenets of Islam.
