On the occasion of the 9th Intenational Yoga Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a virtual address reflected on how India has always nurtured traditions that unite, adopt and embrace, and made a fervent appeal to eliminate contradictions, hurdles and resistances through Yoga.
The prime minister also said Indians have welcomed new ideas and conserved them and celebrated the country's rich diversity.
“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,” the prime minister said.
"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,” Modi said.
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Here's a brief account of how India is all set to celebrate the mega event today.
Indian Navy forms 'Ocean Ring of Yoga'
To mark the 9th anniversary of the day, the India Navy is forming an "Ocean Ring of Yoga" under which naval ships deployed in the Indian Ocean region are visiting various ports in friendly foreign countries.
According to the the Navy, yoga sessions are scheduled at most of the foreign ports that will be visited by the ships including Chattogram in Bangladesh, Safaga in Egypt, Jakarta in Indonesia, Mombasa, in Kenya, Toamasina in Madagascar, Muscat in Oman, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Phuket in Thailand and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by naval ships Kiltan, Chennai, Shivalik, Sunayna, Trishul, Tarkash, Vagir, Sumitra and Brahmaputra respectively.
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It has been reported that nearly 3,500 naval personnel on board 19 Indian Navy ships have travelled more than 35,000 kilometres as ambassadors of yoga in both national and international waters, the Navy said in a statement.
This includes more than 2,400 personnel on 11 naval ships at foreign ports or international waters.
IDY celebrations were also planned on board ships of several foreign navies in concert with India's overseas missions, involving more than 1,200 foreign Navy personnel.
The activities of the Indian Navy ships at the foreign ports are planned to involve the ship's crew and personnel from the host country and would be focussed on the "Common Yoga Protocol" (CYP), the statement said.
Rajnath Singh attended the event
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the celebration of International Yoga Day onboard INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier today.
Singh also joined the Navy personnel onboard INS Vikrant for the International Day of Yoga at 6 am at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
Later, he is scheduled visit the naval base to inaugurate the state-of-the art Ship Handling Simulator.
Meanwhile, a defence release said an underwater yoga session will be organised by the Amphibious Warriors of Pangode Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram as part of celebrations to mark the day.
India Army forms a 'Bharatmala'
The Army has formed a 'Bharatmala' by conducting yoga sessions at more than 106 locations along the country's land and maritime borders on the International Yoga Day on Wednesday, sources said.
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Troops held yoga activities at different border locations -- from the Dong valley in Arunachal Pradesh to sand dunes of Longewala in Rajasthan; and from the glacial heights of Siachen in the north to the southern tip of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Troops and their families including children and defence civilians also participated in the events. Locals will also be involved in the events at places, the source said.
Defence and military attache of different nations in Delhi are invited to attend a central event organised at Delhi Cantonment, where Army Chief General Manoj Pande will be the chief guest.
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NDMC to organise yoga events
The New Delhi Municipal Council orgnised yoga events at eight prominent locations, including Kartavya Path, on International Yoga Day on Wednesday, officials said.
The civic body said all arrangements were in place and the event started at 5 am.
"The NDMC will celebrate this year’s International Day of Yoga at eight locations in its jurisdiction, including Nehru Park, Lodhi Garden, Talkatora Garden, Kartavya Path, New Moti Bagh-IAS Residences area, Sanjay Jheel, Singapore Park, and Central Park-Connaught Place," NDMC Vice Chairman Satish Upadhyay said.
This was the first time that yoga day was be celebrated at Kartavya Path, which was redeveloped and rechristened last year. At all the locations, yoga demonstration will be done.
