New Delhi: Three days ahead of International Yoga Day on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to observe the day from the confines of their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noting that this year's theme is 'Yoga at home' and 'Yoga with family', he said due to the pandemic, it has to be observed indoors.
"Though yoga day celebrations are an occasion of mass gatherings, due to extraordinary times, this year people should observe the day at their homes," he said in a video message.
He further said that the pandemic could have affected the mobility, but not enthusiasm.
PM Modi will address the nation on the occasion of World Yoga Day, which is on June 21. Earlier his address was scheduled at Leh, as per the plans made before the pandemic outbreak, but now he will address the country from the national capital itself.
While he will talk about the importance of Yoga in today's life, it is not yet clear whether he will touch upon the India-China face-off. He may himself practice a few yoga moves on live TV, sources said.
The broadcast will start at 7 a.m. and is likely to last for nearly an hour.
Earlier on Friday this week, the Ministry of AYUSH along with Indian Council of Cultural Relations announced a unique international video blog competition, called ‘My Life My Yoga’ as the International Yoga Day this year will be organised virtually amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The participants were to make a 3-minute video of performing yoga ‘asanas’ and put them on the social media platforms with the hashtag My Life My Yoga and also hashtag their country name tagging the AYUSH ministry.
With inputs from PTI
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