The expanding awareness of Yoga over the past ten years has changed perceptions associated with it, prime minister Narendra Modi said in Srinagar on Friday on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga.
 
“Yoga is now emerging beyond limited boundaries. The world is witnessing the rise of a new yoga economy. In India, a new trend of yoga tourism is being observed from Rishikesh and Kashi to Kerala. Tourists from all over the world are coming to India because they want to learn authentic yoga. Yoga retreats and yoga resorts are being established. Dedicated facilities for yoga are being created at airports and hotels,” he said.

The prime minister, visiting Jammu and Kashmir, also led a Yoga session with a large number of enthusiasts in Srinagar.

He said he was “fortunate to be in the land of yoga and meditation, Kashmir, on International Yoga Day”. The environment, energy, and experiences of Kashmir and Srinagar allow us to feel the strength we get from yoga, he said.

International Yoga Day has completed a historic journey of 10 years. Modi had proposed ‘International Yoga Day’ at the United Nations in 2014. This proposal was supported by 177 countries, which was a record in itself. Since then, Yoga Day has been setting new records. In 2015, 35,000 people practised yoga together at Kartavya Path in Delhi, which was also a world record.

“Last year, I had the opportunity to lead the Yoga Day celebration at the UN Headquarters in the USA, where people from more than 130 countries participated. This journey of yoga continues unbroken. The AYUSH department has established the Yoga Certification Board for yoga practitioners in Bharat. I am pleased that today more than 100 major institutions in the country are recognised by this board. Ten major institutions abroad have also received recognition from this board.”

Meanwhile, Yoga Day was celebrated across India and abroad. President Droupadi Murmu participated in a yoga session in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Union ministers and senior officials also led Yoga sessions.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh led the Armed Forces in celebrating the International Day of Yoga by performing various asanas and breathing exercises with soldiers at 1 Corps in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande and General Officer Commanding, 1 Corps Lt Gen Sanjay Mitra, along with 600 people, including senior officers, Agniveers, families and children attended the event

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) organised coordinated yoga sessions at over 60 locations across the country to mark the International Day of Yoga. The main event was held in New Delhi, which was led by Director General Rakesh Pal and attended by more than 1,000 personnel and their families. DG ICG while addressing the gathering, highlighted the importance of integrating yoga into daily life, especially for those in demanding roles like the Coast Guard.

Union home minister Amit Shah practised Yoga in Ahmedabad, and greeted all the yoga-lovers in the country and the world.

Union minister for environment, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav practised yoga with the people associated with the institute at the Pavilion Ground of National Forest Academy, Dehradun. He said. “We must all celebrate Yoga Day with the spirit of 'Yoga for self and society' under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He said the solution to the world's problems lies in the Indian way of life.”