Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to all citizens and yoga practitioners worldwide on the occasion of the 10th International Day of Yoga. He highlighted the emergence of a new Yoga economy over the past decade. On Friday, PM Modi performed yoga at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing an event in Srinagar, the Prime Minister emphasized that India’s proposal to celebrate International Yoga Day at the United Nations had garnered support from 177 nations. From the region of Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to everyone around the globe on International Yoga Day. He recalled how, ten years ago, he proposed the celebration of International Yoga Day to the United Nations, and India’s proposal received the support of 177 nations, setting a remarkable record. In 2015, at Kartavyapath in Delhi, 35,000 people performed Yogasanas together.
Expressing his honor at being in Kashmir, a place renowned for yoga and meditation, PM Modi noted the powerful impact of yoga. He emphasized the privilege of being in Srinagar on International Yoga Day and acknowledged the energy that yoga brings. He extended his congratulations to all citizens and yoga practitioners worldwide from the land of Kashmir.
Reflecting on the last decade, the Prime Minister highlighted the growing global influence of yoga and the rise of a Yoga economy. He pointed out that destinations like Rishikesh, Kashi, and Kerala have become popular for yoga tourism, attracting people from all over the world to learn authentic yoga. This trend has boosted related sectors such as hospitality, tourism, and apparel, creating new employment opportunities for the youth.
PM Modi also mentioned Charlotte Chopin, a 101-year-old yoga instructor from France, who was honored with the Padma Shri for her lifelong dedication to promoting yoga despite never visiting India. This highlights the growing global interest in yoga, with numerous universities and institutions conducting research and publishing papers on the practice.
Highlighting the global journey of yoga, PM Modi noted the efforts of the AYUSH department in India, which established the Yoga Certification Board to standardize and promote yoga practice. He recounted presiding over the Yoga Day Program at the UN headquarters in the USA, where participants from over 130 countries attended. He also inaugurated a Yoga Centre in Turkmenistan in 2015, where yoga therapy has since been included as a subject at the State Medical University of Turkmenistan.
PM Modi also spoke about the rising interest in yoga in Jammu and Kashmir, viewing it as an opportunity to boost tourism in the union territory. He expressed optimism that this enthusiasm for yoga would inject new energy into the region’s tourism sector.
This year’s International Day of Yoga theme, “Yoga for Self and Society,” underscores the practice’s importance in promoting individual well-being and societal harmony. Since 2015, PM Modi has led the International Day of Yoga celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru, and the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
