“What Unites Us, Is Yoga,” Says PM Modi, Wishing People On International Day Of Yoga 2023

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the national celebration of International Day of Yoga, 2023 via video message today. Wishing people on the International Day of Yoga, PM Modi gave the reason behind not being present in person and practising yoga with everyone. He is currently touring the United States of America (USA) due to various commitments, unlike previous occasions of Yoga Day when he was present here. The Prime Minister informed that he will be attending the Yoga program at the United Nations Headquarters around 5.30 pm (IST) and said,

The coming together of more than 180 countries on India’s call is historic and unprecedented.

Also Read: PM Modi To Lead Yoga Session At UN Secretariat On June 21: UN Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp

In his address to the nation, PM Modi recalled the support of a record number of countries in 2014 when the proposal for Yoga Day was tabled in the UN General Assembly. He added,

Since then, Yoga has become a global movement and a global spirit through the International Day of Yoga.

This year’s celebrations witnesses a unique feature called Ocean Ring of Yoga, where India naval ships are stationed at nine ports around the world and participating in Common Yoga Protocol demonstration at ports and vessels of friendly countries in different oceans.

Highlighting the idea of the ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ which makes Yoga Day even more special, PM Modi said that it is based on the mutual relation between the idea of yoga and the expanse of the ocean. He added,

Army personnel have also made a ‘Yog Bharatmala and Yoga Sagarmala’ with our water sources. Similarly, India’s two research bases from the Arctic to Antarctica i.e. the two poles of the earth are also connecting with yoga. The participation of crores of people from all over the country and the world in this unique celebration of yoga in such a spontaneous manner, highlights the greatness of the vastness and fame of yoga.

Also Read: International Yoga Day 2023: President Of India Urges Everyone To Adopt Yoga In Daily Lives

Quoting the sages, PM Modi said, “What unites us, is Yoga”. He further added that the propagation of Yoga is an extension of the idea that the whole world is included as one family. The Prime Minister underlined that the propagation of Yoga is the propagation of the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. He said,

This is the reason, the theme for the G20 Summit being chaired by India this year is, ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. Today, crores of people all over the world are doing yoga together on the theme of ‘Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

In the context of Yoga, it is written in our texts, “From yoga, from exercise, we get health, longevity and strength”, he said. Underlining the importance of good health at the individual as well as the family level, the Prime Minister emphasised that Yoga creates a healthy and powerful society where the collective energy is much more. He added,

In the past years, from resolutions like Swachh Bharat to campaigns like Startup India, from building a self-reliant India to rebuilding a cultural India, this energy has contributed greatly to the extraordinary momentum that the country and its youth have seen. Today the minds of the country have changed leading to a change in people and their lives.

Also Read: Here Is How India Is Celebrating International Yoga Day

PM Modi remarked that India’s culture and social structure, its spirituality and ideals, and its philosophy and vision have always nurtured traditions that unite, adopt and embrace. He added that Indians have welcomed new ideas and conserved them as he highlighted the country’s celebrated rich diversity. He said,

Yoga strengthens such feelings, expands the inner vision, and connects us with that consciousness which makes us feel the unity of the living being giving a basis of love for the living being. Therefore, we have to eliminate our contradictions, blockages and resistances through yoga. We have to present the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ as an example to the world.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister quoted a Shloka about Yoga and explained that “skill in action is yoga”. He added,

The perfection of Yoga is achieved when one is truly devoted to their duties. Through Yoga, we know the selfless action, we decide the journey from Karma to Karmayoga.

PM Modi expressed confidence that with yoga, we will improve our health and also imbibe these resolutions. While signing off, he said,

Our physical strength, our mental expansion will become the basis of a developed India.

Also Read: International Yoga Day 2023: 5 Yoga Asanas To Practise Daily For Better Health

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.