Leading the second International Day of Yoga here on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched the ancient Indian discipline as a viable solution for countries with low health budgets.

“Yoga is equivalent to health assurance. Countries with poor health budgets should invest in yoga for preventive health measures and they can save a lot of money. It has become essential that everyone says ‘yes’ to yoga. We cannot wait any longer. Embrace yoga and make it a part of your life,” said Mr. Modi, underlining that the practice of yoga was necessary for healthy living.

Over 30,000 people took part in a 45-minute yoga session at the Capitol Complex.

Mr. Modi arrived at 6.30 a.m., dressed in a white T-shirt and trousers and a scarf, to participate in a mass demonstration of “Common Yoga Protocol”. He joined defence, ITBP and Punjab Armed Police personnel and students who were among the participants, after a brief interaction with a 150-strong contingent of differently abled people.

In his 25-minute address, he pitched yoga for atheists, and urged all practitioners to focus on diabetes prevention this year. “Without dragging it into controversies, we should all embrace yoga. It is a huge economic opportunity and will create a lot of jobs internationally for yoga gurus. I urge all practitioners to focus on diabetes and yoga this year. India has become the diabetes capital of the world and we could use yoga to control it. Next year, we will focus on another disease. We should address any one disease every year,” he said concluding his speech.

The Prime Minister announced two new yoga awards — national and international — which will be given away by the Union government next year.

He said the International Day of Yoga had become a mass movement like no other in the world. “No other ‘day’ declared by the United Nations has ever received the acceptance and encouragement as IDY across the world. I feel pride in the fact that our ancestor’s gift has been introduced to the world,” he said.

President’s call

President Pranab Mukherjee also urged people to make yoga an integral part of life as it promoted better health and brought harmony. He was leading nearly 1,000 people at a yoga event at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President said yoga provided mental and physical strength.

“It will enable people to live a healthy life. It will create overall harmony between body and mind. It will enhance mental and physical well-being.”

Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar