Namaskar!
Good Morning!
Foreign Secretary, Dr. S Jaishankar, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It’s my great pleasure to see all of you here at this special of event on the occasion of the 3rd International Day of Yoga.
When Prime Minister Modi had called for observing 21st June as the International Day of Yoga at the UNGA in September 2014, little did we realize that this proposal will receive such unprecedented response.
His call led to the consensus resolution co-sponsored by a record 177 countries and was adopted within a record time of 75 days.
Over the last two years Indian Missions and Posts all over the world have channelized great enthusiasm and interest for yoga in their host countries.
Special events at iconic global locations across the globe have taken place with the participation of hundreds of thousands of Yoga enthusiasts at several places. Heads of States, Heads of Governments, Senior Dignitaries and Celebrities have graced these events.
Friends, Yoga belongs not merely to India but to the whole world. Its inclusion as World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO underlines its global significance, benefits for the entire humanity and growing reach.
While we were happily spreading the light of Yoga in the rest of the world we realized this year that we should also involve the diplomatic community in New Delhi who are already contributing in spreading this ancient heritage.
Friends, I take this opportunity to thank the International community not only for the tremendous response we received for our proposals of adopting 21st June as International Day of Yoga in UN and its inclusion as World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO
but also the support our missions and posts are getting abroad in successful celebrations of International Day of Yoga every year by the host countries.
Excellencies, Yoga is not merely about physical well-being through Asanas or Postures or Pranayam or breath control. It is a science to attain inner-peace, it is the art to attain equanimity. It is a full system to arrive at harmony within ourselves, with nature,
and with the world.
Therefore we will end today’s Yoga session as was told by Gopal Baglay with prayers for the World Peace or Shanti Prarthana.
There are 11 Shlokas which are ancient Indian prayers for peace, brotherhood and harmony. All these Shlokas end with Shanti, Shanti and Shanti i.e. Peace, Peace and Peace.
I would request you to repeat thrice Shanti, Shanti, Shanti every time these words are spoken from the dais. This will create a strong vibration in our prayer for peace and I am sure that you will experience this peace in your inner self.
I thank you all for your presence here and wish you all health, happiness and peace through regular practice of Yoga.
Shanti is a very very easy word. We can all chant Shanti. Let me conclude these opening remarks with all of us with
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
Thank You.