Is yoga just a practice or has it become the biggest global force that connects the world? Why did PM Modi say that June 21 has now become the world’s biggest community celebration? Is Yoga for ‘Healthy Aging’ really a great solution to the challenges of aging? Is this call to make yoga a part of life the beginning of a new global health revolution?
PM Modi Yoga Day Speech: Kolkata’s historic ‘Red Road’ became drenched with an unprecedented spiritual energy on Sunday morning. The occasion was the 12th International Yoga Day, where the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi did yoga amidst a crowd of thousands. In his 15-minute powerful speech, PM Modi said something that once again proved India’s cultural strength on the global stage. He declared that yoga is no longer just a physical practice but has become “the world’s largest community celebration”, uniting people across countries, borders and cultures.
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The suspense of age: Can you be more flexible at 40 than a 20-year-old?
Regarding the theme of this year’s Yoga Day – ‘Yoga for Healthy Aging’ – PM Modi presented a vision from the stage which forced people of every age present there to think. It is often believed that with increasing age the body gets tired and capabilities decrease, but PM Modi completely overturned this notion. He said in a challenging tone, “Our aim should be that at the age of 40 we should be more flexible than at the age of 20. Our aim should be that at the age of 50 we should be more energetic than at the age of 30.” The PM explained that the real secret of yoga is that it never allows human potential to diminish by defeating the biological process of aging. This is the key to a better future not just for the elderly, but for every generation.
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“Don’t make it a celebration of just one day”: PM Modi’s big resolution
There came a time during the speech when PM Modi, being very serious, appealed to the people around the world to take a big resolution. He cautioned that limiting Yoga to just a one-day show or celebration on June 21 would not do justice to its original spirit. PM Modi, interacting with the speakers and the public directly from the stage, said, “Let us all come together and take a pledge today: We will not limit yoga to just one day. We will make yoga a part of our lives, a part of our families and include it in the DNA of our future generations.” His message was clear that this health revolution has to be transformed into an everyday discipline so that the future of the world can be better.
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Spiritual connection of the holy land of Bengal: Emotional tribute to the saints
From this platform in Kolkata, PM Modi not only talked about health, but also remembered the glorious history of Bengal which showed the path of spirituality to the whole world. Paying tribute to great Bengali saints like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda, he said that this collective experience of Yoga on this holy land is very special and unique. This is the same land from where Swami Vivekananda introduced Indian yoga and culture on the global stage. During this historic event, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Governor RN Ravi and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari were also present on the stage, who while addressing the crowd before the Prime Minister, highlighted the miraculous benefits of yoga. Lastly, the PM extended special congratulations to the citizens of Kolkata for their unique ‘Welcome Clean’ initiative, which added to the dignity of this global event.