Eco-friendly Yoga Day observed in Ranchi with PM Modi

Ranchi, June 21 (IANS) An eco-friendly Yoga Day was observed in Jharkhand capital Ranchi on Friday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading 30,000 participants in the event.

"It was plastic-free Yoga Day in Ranchi. No plastic products were used. The Yoga mats was made of Khadi. Ranchi gave a message to the world on International Day of Yoga to preserve the environment," said a press statement of the Jharkhand government.

The officials did not disclose from where the saffron Khadi mats were procured.

Prime Minister Modi performed Yoga along with around 30,000 people at Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi.

"Let our motto be 'Yoga for peace, harmony and progress'," exhorted the Prime Minister as in his address, shortly before the Yoga session.

Greeting everyone on the occasion, he complimented media personnel, and those associated with social media, for the key role they played in spreading the message of Yoga.

The Prime Minister said that he now wants to take the message of modern Yoga from the cities to the villages, and to the homes of the poor and tribal communities.

He emphasised that Yoga must become part of the lives of the poor and the tribals, because they suffer the most on account of illness.

The Prime Minister said that today, with changing times, our focus should be on wellness too, besides preventing illness. He said Yoga can give this strength. He said this is the spirit of Yoga and of ancient Indian philosophy.

After performing around 45 minutes of Yoga, the Prime Minister went up to several Yoga participants and shook hands with them.

"I watched our PM from very close. It was a great moment of my life," said Shubam, a 14-year-old boy.