On World Health Day, Modi govt’s ‘Yoga Mahotsav’ toasts India’s ‘ancestral way of life’

Ayush Ministry organised a Yoga Mahotsav at Red Fort Thursday to mark World Health Day. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was the chief guest, with ministers & envoys in attendance.

The Yoga Mahotsav at Red Fort Thursday | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

New Delhi: On World Health Day, Thursday, the Union Ayush Ministry organised a Yoga Mahotsav at the Red Fort, to demonstrate some common yoga asanas (postures) to the public.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was the chief guest at the event, while Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal, Bhupender Yadav, G. Kishan Reddy and Meenakshi Lekhi were among the participants. Also in attendance were the ambassadors and high commissioners of many countries.

The event comes amid the 100-day countdown to the 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY), which will be celebrated 75 days later on 21 June. To mark 75 years of the country’s Independence this year, the 8th IDY will see events being held at 75 iconic sites across India.

“Yoga is our ancestral way of life. We have kept this yoga exercise today, ahead of International Yoga Day, relating it to the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (75 years of Indian Independence)’,” said Om Birla.

A participant performs yoga, with the Red Fort in the backdrop | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

From left to right: Union ministers Bhupender Yadav and Sarbananda Sonowal, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, at the event | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi at the event | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

In the quest for health | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Minister Bhupender Yadav at Red Fort | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

From left to right: Bhupender Yadav, Sarbananda Sonowal, Om Birla and G. Kishan Reddy | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Meenakshi Lekhi with one of the participants | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Participants concentrate on getting it right at Thursday’s yoga event | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Participants perform the anuloma pranayama | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint

Age was no bar at the event, with the participants including children too | Photo: Manisha Mondal | ThePrint