Yoga Day: PM Modi performs Yoga at the Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

This year's mega International Yoga Day event, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was organised at the Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Over 30,000 yoga enthusiasts took part in PM Modi's event amid tight security. Several top government functionaries are also attending Yoga events across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he wants to take yoga from cities to village of the country, make it accessible to all. This year, the International Yoga Day theme is "Yoga for Heart Care", PM Modi said today.

"I urge you all to embrace Yoga and make it an integral part of your daily routine. Yoga is ancient and modern. It is constant and evolving," says PM Modi while addressing the crowd at the Yoga Day event. Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and various other ministers were present in the event.

Last year, PM Modi marked the day with a similar event in Dehradun and was joined by thousands of people. Celebrations also panned across the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The event also enjoys a global reach.

The idea of the International Day of Yoga was first proposed by PM Modi during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 27, 2014. Recognising Yoga's universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga.

Here are the highlights of International Yoga Day 2019:

Jun 21, 2019 19:39 (IST) Read Here: International Yoga Day 2019: "New India" Tweets Rahul Gandhi With Dog Yoga Pic, Amit Shah Hits Back

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'New India' vision, shared a picture of the Army's dog squad imitating yoga postures done by their trainers on International Yoga Day, an event celebrated with much pomp every year by the prime minister.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'New India' vision, shared a picture of the Army's dog squad imitating yoga postures done by their trainers on International Yoga Day, an event celebrated with much pomp every year by the prime minister.

Jun 21, 2019 19:03 (IST) International Yoga Day 2019: "It is a science of well-being": Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Yoga



External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said that by observing the International Day of Yoga together, the entire globe is celebrating the common humanity amongst each other.



"This morning Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that yoga belongs to everyone and everyone belongs to yoga. Its inclusion as a world intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO underlines its global significance and benefits for the entire humanity," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.



"Its growing reach and acceptance is evident everywhere and I am sure particularly in the countries that are represented here," said Dr Jaishankar, who was speaking at an event marking the fifth International Yoga Day at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra.



"It is not just a science. It is a science of well-being, the science of integrating body, mind, and soul, and the science of actualising our true potential. By celebrating the International Day of Yoga together, we celebrate our common humanity. We are recognising that we have shared bonds," he said.



Jun 21, 2019 17:39 (IST) International Yoga Day: 70 Chinese army personnel and 30 civilians participate in joint yoga sessions: news agency PTI



Chinese army troops and civilians for the first time participated in a joint Yoga session with Indian army personnel along the Indo-China border in the Eastern border on Friday, reported news agency PTI.



Altogether 70 Chinese army personnel and 30 civilians participated in the joint yoga sessions at Nathu-La in Sikkim and at Bumla and Wacha-Damai in Arunachal Pradesh, a defence spokesperson Lt Col Harshwardhan Pande said.



Participation of Chinese army personnel in such an event during border personnel meetings will go a long way in promoting peace and tranquility along the borders, he said.



Jun 21, 2019 17:37 (IST) Yoga Day 2019: Odisha observes International Yoga Day



International Yoga Day was observed with enthusiasm across Odisha on Friday.



Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, who attended a programme organised on the occasion at Janata Maidan in the state capital, said Yoga can not only unite people but can also protect our ecology which is in danger, reported PTI.



Following the initiative of India, all the nations across world are now getting attracted towards Yoga as it helps in resolving disputes and establishing peace and harmony, Mr Lal said.



Jun 21, 2019 17:36 (IST) Yoga Day: Lakhs perform yoga asanas in Punjab, Haryana for International Yoga Day: news agency PTI



A large number of people Friday participated in the fifth International Yoga Day events which were organised at various places in Punjab and Haryana, reported news agency PTI.



Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar described yoga as an ancient practice and said Yoga Day functions have been organised simultaneously at 80 places in the state in which about five lakh people participated.



In Chandigarh, a yoga session was held at Plaza sector 17 in which around 3,000 people took part.



Punjab Governor and UT Chandigarh Administrator VP Singh Badnore joined people in the Yoga Day event. Haryana Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya also performed yoga ''asanas'' in a separate event.



Jun 21, 2019 17:13 (IST) International Yoga Day 2019: Indian Army personnel perform yoga at Siachen Glacier



Battling the cold, Indian Army personnel performed Yoga in Siachen on Friday to mark the occasion of 5th International Yoga Day, reported news agency ANI.



Army personnel performed asanas at Siachen Glacier, which is the world's highest battlefield, according to an ANI report.



The troops deployed at the glacier are known for their perseverance and fighting spirit as the temperatures at the altitude of over 20,000 feet may be as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius.



All the defence forces took part in the celebrations of International Yoga Day at various locations across the country.



Jun 21, 2019 16:40 (IST) Read Here: Yoga Day 2019: Kerala Students Hit By School Official's Car Before Yoga Day Event: Cops

About 10 students of Vivekananda School in Kerala's Ernakulam district were injured this morning after they were allegedly hit by a car of their school administrator. The students had gathered in the school premises for a Yoga Day procession when the car hit them.

About 10 students of Vivekananda School in Kerala's Ernakulam district were injured this morning after they were allegedly hit by a car of their school administrator. The students had gathered in the school premises for a Yoga Day procession when the car hit them.

Jun 21, 2019 14:52 (IST) Sri Lankan President Shares Yoga Video

"I compliment my friend @narendramodi for his efforts at bringing our common heritage of Yoga to the international stage," he tweets. I compliment my friend @narendramodi for his efforts at bringing our common heritage of Yoga to the international stage. I urge all to practice yoga like me. pic.twitter.com/jHPWd9NDAe - Maithripala Sirisena (@MaithripalaS) June 21, 2019

Jun 21, 2019 14:47 (IST) Yoga More Beneficial Than Workout: Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir, the newly-elected Member of Parliament, said for sportsmen, yoga is more beneficial than gymming. The former batsman performed Yoga on the 5th International Yoga Day today. "Yoga is very important as a sports person and sportsmen always do yoga. Both gyming and yoga are important but yoga helps in building concentration power and keeps you calm and peaceful to take better decisions."

Jun 21, 2019 14:32 (IST) Yoga Is For Body, Not Because Of PM Modi: Vice-President

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu says people need to understand that yoga is not a programme of the government or Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and they should do it for their well-being.

"We should all see that it becomes a people's movement. (PM) Modi took initiative and propagated yoga across the world. But, we need to understand that yoga is for body and not because of (PM) Modi," he says.

Jun 21, 2019 14:16 (IST) There Is A Yoga For Dogs: UN

"As the world celebrates the Fifth #InternationalDayofYoga - "man's best friend" are also not far behind when it comes to practicing asanas," it says on Twitter. #DYK that there is a yoga for dogs, known as 'Doga'?



As the world celebrates the Fifth #InternationalDayofYoga - "man's best friend" 🐕 are also not far behind when it comes to practicing asanas. These paw-sitive 🐾 photos are all the #FridayMotivation you need!



Via @ANIpic.twitter.com/zbG2q3zoUo - United Nations India (@UNinIndia) June 21, 2019

Jun 21, 2019 14:09 (IST) PM Modi Posts Photos From Yoga Day Event

"World over, the first rays of the sun being welcomed by enthusiastic Yoga practitioners would be a delightful sight. Yoga assures fitness and wellness. Yoga ensures a healthy body, stable mind and a spirit of oneness in society," he tweets. Sharing some more pictures from Ranchi, where Yoga Day was marked with great vigour. #YogaDay2019pic.twitter.com/sf7UIjmQy0 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2019

Jun 21, 2019 13:55 (IST) Baba Ramdev announces first official memoir on Yoga Day

On the occasion of International Yoga Day today, yoga guru Baba Ramdev announces his first official autobiography, titled "My Life, My Mission". It will release in August, the publisher Penguin says, according to news agency IANS.

Sharing the news on Twitter, Ramdev said that although a lot has been written on him by other people, he will now share his life's story in his words.

"This autobiographical account uncovers the trials, tribulations and triumphs of his life and provides insights into his childhood, his passion for yoga and good health, his friends and foes and the Swadeshi campaign he spearheaded," the leading publishing house said in a statement.

Jun 21, 2019 13:53 (IST) Thousands of Indian expat residents and others participated in yoga sessions in Abu Dhabi to mark the fifth International Yoga Day, media reports said. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi hosted the celebrations at the Umm Al Emarat Park from 7 pm onwards on Thursday evening, reports the Gulf News.

Jun 21, 2019 11:07 (IST) "Lifestyle diseases are affecting us. Yoga is providing us all kind of exercises for our body. Any one can practice yoga; everyone irrespective of religion and caste should practice this," says Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a yoga event in Trivandrum.

Jun 21, 2019 11:03 (IST) China Marks 5th International Yoga Day

Yoga represents aspirations of the people from India and China that it is beneficial to work together in spirit of "friendship and cooperation", Indian envoy Vikram Misri said Friday as he along with a large number of Chinese yoga enthusiasts in Beijing marked the fifth International Yoga Day.

Thousands of yoga enthusiasts across China rolled out their mats to participate in colourful yoga events here to mark the yoga day.

Yoga represents aspirations of the people from India and China that it is beneficial to work together in spirit of "friendship and cooperation", Indian envoy Vikram Misri said Friday as he along with a large number of Chinese yoga enthusiasts in Beijing marked the fifth International Yoga Day.

Jun 21, 2019 10:58 (IST) French Ambassador to India, Alexandre Ziegler on Yoga Day 2019 tells news agency ANI: "We had more than 100 yoga practitioners this morning. We have Yoga lessons almost everyday at the Embassy. Yoga is becoming popular among the French people now. It helps to stay fit both physically and mentally."

Jun 21, 2019 10:29 (IST) President Ram Nath Kovind performs Yoga

"On #InternationalDayofYoga best wishes to all practitioners of yoga across the world. Yoga is India's gift to humanity; it holds the key to healthy living and to that fine balance between mind and body. Do become a part of the celebration of yoga," the official Twitter account of Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Twitter.





Jun 21, 2019 09:45 (IST) Border Security Force's equestrian team performs Yoga on horsebacks at the BSF camp in Gurugram. #Haryana: Border Security Force's equestrian team performs Yoga on horsebacks at the BSF camp in Gurugram. pic.twitter.com/Vp7ytXqDRg - ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2019 Border Security Force's equestrian team performs Yoga on horsebacks at the BSF camp in Gurugram.

Jun 21, 2019 09:25 (IST) Deputy UN Secretary-General Speaks On Yoga Day

Deputy UN Secretary-General Amina Mohammed says yoga can help the world in these troubled times by inspiring the adoption of a sustainable lifestyle to fight climate change and by promoting tolerance and peace. "The essence of yoga is balance not only within us, but also in our relationship with humanity, with the world. As such, yoga can promote solidarity, social integration, tolerance justice and peace," she says.

The theme of the celebration is Yoga and Climate Action, and Ms Mohammed says that yoga "has a valuable contribution in addressing climate change."

Jun 21, 2019 09:20 (IST) The Delhi BJP is hosting around 300 yoga sessions across the capital, in which about 10 lakh people are expected to participate, state chief Manoj Tiwari said. "Senior BJP leaders and union ministers will take part in 40 big events on International Yoga Day," he added.

Jun 21, 2019 09:16 (IST) Ram Madhav, BJP National General Secretary, performs yoga at an event in Trivandrum, Kerala.

"Yoga is one such practice that teaches world how to control ourselves. PM gave a call to the world, 'Come let us practice yoga' so that we can overcome all conflicts and the world will be a beautiful place," says Ram Madhav, BJP National General Secretary. Ram Madhav, BJP National General Secretary, performs yoga at an event in Trivandrum, Kerala.

Jun 21, 2019 09:08 (IST) Smriti Irani performs Yoga

Union Minister Smriti Irani performs Yoga on the 5th International Day of Yoga in Dwarka. Union Ministers, BJP leaders and top government functionaries participated in similar events across the country.

Delhi: Union Minister Smriti Irani performs Yoga on 5th #InternationalDayofYoga , in Dwarka. pic.twitter.com/CxFTaDdBqt - ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2019 Union Minister Smriti Irani performs Yoga on the 5th International Day of Yoga in Dwarka. Union Ministers, BJP leaders and top government functionaries participated in similar events across the country.

Jun 21, 2019 08:51 (IST) Navy personnel perform Yoga on submarine INS Sindhudhvaj.

Navy personnel perform Yoga on submarine INS Sindhudhvaj.

Jun 21, 2019 08:29 (IST) Union Minister Nitin Gadkari leads International Day of Yoga celebrations in Maharashtra's Nagpur. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari leads #InternationalDayofYoga celebrations in Maharashtra's Nagpur. pic.twitter.com/j4cIVrWSh1 - ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2019 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari leads International Day of Yoga celebrations in Maharashtra's Nagpur.

Jun 21, 2019 08:27 (IST) "International Day of Yoga is being celebrated at Rashtrapati Bhavan since 2015. I am happy that like previous years, this year too we are celebrating Yoga Day here. It's not just an event, it's a way to make yoga an integral part of our life," says President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

Jun 21, 2019 08:27 (IST) "UN has a special place in the remarkable growth of Yoga in our own lifetimes. It was here that ancient practice of Yoga was transformed into an annual global observance," says Syed Akbaruddin, India's Permanent Representative to UN Ambassador, at UN in New York.

Jun 21, 2019 08:11 (IST) Amit Shah addresses crowd in Rohtak on International Yoga Day

"The knowledge of yoga is for the welfare of the whole world. On International Yoga Day, I express my great gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving a global form to Yoga," he says.

Jun 21, 2019 08:09 (IST) "Na-MOUSE-te!": Disney To Take Part In International Yoga Day

Thousands of Disney cast members around the world will stretch out their mats for special yoga-focused events celebrating International Yoga Day at Disney parks, its website has said. It will be live streamed from Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park.

"Friday's yoga session is a cast member exclusive event but anyone in the world can see it LIVE right here on the Disney Parks Blog," Disney said. It ended the post on its website with a "Na-MOUSE-te!"

Jun 21, 2019 08:07 (IST) BJP National Working President JP Nadda and National General Secretary (Organisation) Ram Lal perform Yoga at Deen Dayal Upadhayay Park.

Jun 21, 2019 08:01 (IST) PM Modi's Yoga Session In Ranchi Ends

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with people after performing yoga at Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi.

Four hundred makeshift toilets, over 200 drinking water kiosks, eight medical teams, 21 ambulances, disaster rescue force personnel and more than 100 CCTV cameras were in place at the venue. Twenty-eight giant screens were installed for live telecast of the event.

Jun 21, 2019 07:47 (IST) Yoga At French Embassy

Officials of the French Embassy in Delhi took part in the Yoga Day event. Members of the Embassy of the United States of America in Delhi also performed Yoga today.

Yoga being performed at the French embassy in Delhi on #InternationalDayofYoga . pic.twitter.com/QW3r2KLCas - ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2019

Jun 21, 2019 07:47 (IST) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla performs Yoga along with parliamentarians and parliament staff.

Jun 21, 2019 07:45 (IST) Army Dog Unit Practices Yoga

Trained dogs of the Indian Army also participate in the Yoga Day event.



Jun 21, 2019 07:45 (IST) Indian Navy Personnel Perform Yoga Indian Navy personnel perform yoga onboard INS Sumedha



Follow live updates here: https://t.co/wej1xX6YQT#InternationalDayofYoga#YogaDay2019pic.twitter.com/WYgzdTy45K - NDTV (@ndtv) June 21, 2019

Jun 21, 2019 07:42 (IST) International Yoga Day At UN Celebrating the #InternationalDayofYoga at the @UN today with the theme 👉🏼#Yoga4ClimateAction 🧘🏼‍♀️🌱🧘🏾‍♂️



Congratulations to @IndiaUNNewYork 🇮🇳 on a great event! pic.twitter.com/pSAnzyQM30 - Iceland at UN 🇮🇸 (@IcelandUN) June 20, 2019

Jun 21, 2019 07:40 (IST) Actor Shilpa Shetty performs Yoga in Mumbai



#Maharashtra: People perform Yoga at the Gateway of India in Mumbai; Actor Shilpa Shetty also present. #InternationalDayofYogapic.twitter.com/tRV1J1nTTM - ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2019 People perform Yoga at the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

Jun 21, 2019 07:39 (IST) Watch: Amit Shah Performs Yoga In Rohtak

The Union Home Minister performs Yoga in Haryana's Rohtak.



Home Minister and BJP National President Shri @AmitShah performs Yoga at #InternationalDayofYoga program in Rohtak, Haryana. #YogaDay2019https://t.co/YY5gnVbqAG - BJP (@BJP4India) June 21, 2019 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended an early morning yoga session at Rajpath in Delhi, along with New Delhi lawmaker Meenakshi Lekhi and a large number of people. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and East Delhi lawmaker Gautam Gambhir attended a yoga session at the Yamuna Sports Complex in Shahdara.

Jun 21, 2019 07:38 (IST) Rajnath Singh Performs Yoga In Delhi





"I urge everyone to make Yoga an integral part of their lives," the defence minister had tweeted.

Jun 21, 2019 07:36 (IST) Indian Army Takes Part In Yoga Day

Our fit and fearless soldiers Indian Army practice Yoga on the icy heights of Himalayan Ranges, says the Indian Army on Twitter. "We are committed for having healthy and fit India."

Our fit and fearless soldiers Indian Army practice Yoga on the icy heights of Himalayan Ranges, says the Indian Army on Twitter. "We are committed for having healthy and fit India."

Jun 21, 2019 07:35 (IST) ITBP personnel participate in yoga practice session in Leh on International Day of Yoga.

Jun 21, 2019 07:26 (IST) Yoga must be part of Medical Sciences, Artificial Intelligence: PM Modi

Today, if the world is adopting yoga, we also have to focus on research related to yoga, says PM Modi. Yoga must also be part of the Medical, Physiotherapy, Artificial Intelligence fields, he adds.

Jun 21, 2019 07:20 (IST) Defence Minister's tweet on Yoga Day: On #YogaDay2019 I urge everyone to make Yoga an integral part of their lives. Join us live from Rajpath, New Delhi on my YouTube channel : https://t.co/XkgAaG7Ekf - Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 21, 2019

Jun 21, 2019 07:13 (IST) PM Modi Performs Yoga In Ranchi



Jun 21, 2019 07:09 (IST) PM Modi on Yoga Day:

We all know the importance of Yoga very well. It has always been an important part of our culture. But now we all have to take the practice of Yoga to another level. The way the software of our phone keeps updating, similarly we need the world to know the benefits of yoga.

Jun 21, 2019 07:04 (IST) Theme for this year is "Yoga for Heart Care": PM Modi on Yoga Day Heart care has become a challenge all over the world.

I urge you all to embrace Yoga and make it an integral part of your daily routine. Yoga is ancient and modern. It is constant and evolving. For centuries, the essence of yoga has remained the same.

Yoga provides a perfect bend of gyaan and knowledge, bhakti and devotion.

Yoga can help prevent heart diseases, says PM Modi

Let this year's motto be: Yoga for peace, harmony and progress.

Jun 21, 2019 06:57 (IST) In the last 5 years, we have made Yoga a part of preventive healthcare. Today we can say, the presence of yoga can be felt around in different parts of the country, says PM Modi. The importance of practising yoga is perhaps greater than ever before. We live in a time when stress due to work is increasing, he adds.

Jun 21, 2019 06:56 (IST) Yoga Key To Wellness: PM Modi On International Yoga Day 2019

I am attached to Ranchi. And there are 3 reasons why I chose this city to participate in the Yoga Day event.

Firstly, Jharkhand is very close to nature.

Ranchi and health has gone down in history when on Spetember 3 last year, we launched the world's largest healthcare scheme -- Ayushman Bharat.

Now I have to take the journey of modern yoga from cities to villages, to the homes of the poor and the tribals. I also want to make yoga an integral part of the lives of the poor and tribals. Because it is the poor who suffer the most due to illness.

Jun 21, 2019 06:51 (IST) PM Modi thanks people for participating in Yoga Event

The media and the people on social media have played a big role in promoting Yoga internationally, I thank them.

Jun 21, 2019 06:48 (IST) Watch: PM Modi addresses the Yoga Day event in Ranchi

Yoga for peace, harmony and progress! Watch #YogaDay2019 programme from Ranchi. https://t.co/nP8xHWMVYi - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2019

Jun 21, 2019 06:42 (IST) ITBP personnel in Himachal

ITBP personnel perform yoga at 14,000 ft near Rohtang Pass at minus 10 Degrees Celsius temperature.



Jun 21, 2019 06:36 (IST) People perform Yoga in Janaki Temple in Janakpur, Nepal, at an event organised by the Embassy of India on the 5th international Yoga day.

Jun 21, 2019 06:29 (IST) PM Modi on Twitter All set for the #YogaDay2019 programme in Ranchi. pic.twitter.com/11kc1vFOo3 - PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 21, 2019

Jun 21, 2019 06:19 (IST) River Yoga In Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh: Personnel of 9th Battalion of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) perform 'River Yoga' in Digaru river on #InternationalDayofYoga near Teju, Lohitpur. pic.twitter.com/fxVyC5Lxn0 - ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2019

Jun 21, 2019 06:18 (IST) Animals Join In

ITBP troops of ATS Lohitpur perform yoga with their dogs and horses on International Day of Yoga.

ITBP troops of ATS Lohitpur perform yoga with their dogs and horses on International Day of Yoga.