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India celebrates low-key International Yoga Day during virus crisis
NEW DELHI, June 21, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – India marked International Yoga
Day with low-key events Sunday as the nation battles coronavirus, but
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the crisis had made the ancient
practice even more relevant.
The annual event — proposed by Modi and adopted by the United
Nations in 2014 — is observed mostly in India, but also worldwide on
the Northern Hemisphere’s longest day.
As the virus crisis forced practitioners to celebrate the occasion
indoors, or with small outdoor sessions, Modi — an avid yogi himself
— called on people to draw strength from the practice’s physical and
mental benefits.
“Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the world is realising the
need of yoga now more than ever,” Modi said in Hindi in a video speech
shared on social media Sunday.
“COVID-19 virus attacks our respiratory system. Pranayam (breathing
exercises) helps the most in making our respiratory systems strong.”
Since taking office in 2014, the Indian leader has spearheaded an
initiative to reclaim the practice as a historic part of Indian
culture.
Indian scholars believe yoga dates back 5,000 years, based on
archaeological evidence of poses found inscribed on stones, and
references to Yogic teachings in the ancient Hindu scriptures of the
Vedas.
The event came as the South Asia nation of 1.3 billion people
reported a record single-day spike of 15,413 new coronavirus
infections on Sunday.
It took the nationwide total to over 410,000 cases, including more
than 13,250 deaths.
BSS/AFP/MRU/1853hrs