Yoga will boost J&K tourism: PM Modi

Srinagar, June 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday pitched Jammu and Kashmir as the new wellness destination and said yoga would attract tourists to the region and create opportunities for livelihood among the youth.

Addressing the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY) event at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, PM Modi lauded the enthusiasm of the people of J&K, especially Srinagar, towards yoga and said that it provides a platform to boost the tourism of J&K.

“Yoga is creating new avenues of employment for the youth,” he said as he led the celebrations of IDY and took part in a yoga session.

The PM expressed gratitude for being present in J&K, the land of Yog and Sadhna, on the occasion of IDY.

“The atmosphere, energy, and experience from yoga can be felt in J&K today,” he said.

PM Modi conveyed his best wishes on IDY to all citizens and those practising yoga in different parts of the world.

Noting the 10th anniversary of IDY, he recalled that a record 177 countries endorsed India’s proposal in the UN.

The PM also mentioned subsequent records made in the context of IDY like 35,000 people doing yoga on Kartavya Path in 2015 and more than 130 countries participating in the yoga event led by him at the UN Headquarters last year.

He also expressed happiness that more than 100 institutes in India and 10 major foreign institutes had been recognised by the Yoga Certification Board formed by the Ministry of Ayush.

PM Modi underlined that the number of people practising yoga is growing worldwide while its attraction is constantly on the rise.

He highlighted that yoga’s utility was also being recognised by the people and stated that there was barely any world leader who had not discussed yoga during his interactions.

“All world leaders show a keen interest in yoga during their interactions with me,” the PM said.

He asserted that yoga had become a part of daily life in every corner of the world.

Throwing light on the growing acceptance of yoga around the world, PM Modi recalled inaugurating a yoga centre during his visit to Turkmenistan in 2015 and that yoga had become extremely popular in the country today.

He said that State Medical Universities in Turkmenistan had included yoga therapy, Saudi Arabia had made it a part of their education system, and the Mongolian Yoga Foundation was running many yoga schools.

Informing about the acceptance of yoga in Europe, the PM said that so far, 1.5 crore German citizens have become yoga practitioners.

He also recalled India awarding a Padma Shree this year to a 101-year-old French yoga teacher for her contributions to yoga even though she had not visited India even once.

PM Modi said that yoga had become a topic of research today and multiple research papers had already been published.

Touching upon the changing notions about yoga due to its expansion in the last 10 years, the PM talked about a new yoga economy.

He said that there was a growing attraction for yoga tourism and people desired to visit India to learn authentic yoga.

PM Modi also mentioned yoga retreats, resorts, dedicated facilities for yoga at airports and hotels, yoga apparel and equipment, personal yoga trainers, and companies carrying out yoga and mindfulness wellness initiatives.

Talking about the theme of this year’s IDY, ‘Yoga for Self and Society’, he said that the world was looking at yoga as a powerful agent of global good and it enabled people to live in the present without the baggage of the past.

The PM emphasised, “Yoga helps us realise that our welfare is related to the welfare of the world around us.  When we are peaceful within, we can also make a positive impact on the world.”

Stressing the scientific aspects of yoga, he highlighted its importance for coping with information overload and maintaining focus.

PM Modi said concentration was the greatest power and that was why yoga was being incorporated in fields ranging from Army to sports.

“Astronauts are also being trained in yoga and meditation. Yoga is also being used in prisons to spread positive thoughts among the inmates. Yoga is scripting new pathways of positive change in the society,” he said.

The PM expressed confidence that inspiration derived from yoga would give positive energy to their efforts.

He also praised the spirit of the people to come out and show their support despite the rainy weather conditions.

“Association of 50,000 to 60,000 people with yoga programme in J&K is huge,” PM Modi said.

He concluded his address by thanking the people of J&K for their support and participation and conveyed his best wishes to all yoga enthusiasts from around the world.

On the occasion of the 10th IDY on June 21, 2024, the PM led the IDY celebrations at SKICC in Srinagar.

This year's event underscores yoga's profound impact on young minds and bodies.

The celebration aimed to unite thousands in the practice of yoga, promoting health and wellness on a global scale.

Since 2015, the PM has led the IDY celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru, and the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

This year’s theme ‘Yoga for Self and Society’ highlights the dual role in fostering individual and societal well-being.