Page 64 - Mann Ki Baat - English May 2022
P. 64
yoGa – the Basis of healthy livinG
focus of public consciousness.
The idea of International Day of
Yoga was first expressed by the
Hon’ble Prime Minister during
his speech at the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) on 27
th
September, 2014. Subsequently,
India’s Permanent Representative
Ashok Mukherjee tabled the
draft resolution in the UN General
Assembly. This initiative received
Sanjeev Mehta support from many global
President FICCI, and CEO & MD, leaders. A total of 177 nations
co-sponsored the resolution, the
Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
highest number of co-sponsors
for any such UNGA resolution.
st
Thus, 21 June was officially
The origin of Yoga in India dates
designated as the International
back to about 5,000 years ago Day of Yoga.
in the northern part of India. It is
a spiritual discipline based on a At present, this International Day
is celebrated globally in about 190
highly refined knowledge, which
countries. It is also celebrated at
focuses on bringing harmony in
mind and body. The word ‘Yoga’ all the Indian High Commissions
derives from the Sanskrit word and Indian Embassies abroad.
‘yuj’, which means ‘to connect’ or In India, on the occasion of
‘to be united’. In India, there has International Day of Yoga on
been an old tradition of practicing, 21 June, Yoga sessions are
st
teaching and preaching of Yoga. organized on a large scale in the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has morning, in which people from
made a significant contribution in all walks of life as well as school-
children, college-students and
making Yoga a mass movement
general public participate.
in modern times. Right from his
public speeches to practicing The theme of this year’s
Yoga himself, he is an inspiration International Day of Yoga is
for others. His focus on Yoga, — ‘Yoga for Humanity’. One
fitness and alternative medicine hundred different organizations
system has played an important are organizing mass sessions of
role in making the various Yoga for 100 days at 100 places in
dimensions of healthy living, different parts of the country. The
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