Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yoga had played a significant role in bringing the world together, cutting across differences of colour, class and creed, and added that it was “our collective gift to humanity.” Modi also warned against “commoditization“ of the ancient Indian practice.
“In India, this morning, millions of people participated in a simple yoga demonstration at Rajpath, in states and district capitals, in community groups and in their homes also,” Modi said while opening the two-day “International Conference on Yoga for Holistic Health” at Vigyan Bhavan. “This solidarity in yoga, this coming together with our brothers and sisters in other countries, brings our hearts and minds closer,” he added.
Acknowledging the contribution of other countries to yoga, Modi said that it may have originated in India but it drew energy from the millions who participated it around the world. “International Yoga Day is not the brainchild of a government or of the United Nations. It is a reflection of the largest knowledge-based peoples' movement the world has ever seen,” he said. “We will take this movement forward to aim for better health, more fulfilled lives and more connected communities.”
A total of 194 UN member countries had supported India's proposal to adopt June 21 as International Day of Yoga with 177 of these countries co-sponsoring the event. Modi pledged to foster a culture of “inclusiveness,” of “fraternity,” of one global family -“Vasudhev Kutambakam.”
“I acknowledge...that this support is not just for India. This support is for the great tradition of yoga, the tradition that helps individuals and societies to discover a sense of oneness with the self, with each other and nature,” he said while addressing a gathering of eminent yoga gurus, diplomats, senior government officials and yoga enthusiasts.
Modi, however, cautioned against commoditization of yoga. “Yoga is not a commodity or a brand up for sale. It is a way to join people, join people to nature. We have to keep it that way. A day should not come where we say that my yoga is the right one and others are just making money by holding their noses and ears,” he said.
Emphasizing that yoga was not a business but a state of being, Modi said it was India's gift for the world's welfare. However, he said yoga should not be seen as “hamari bapouti (our inheritance).”
