Since December 2014, the United Nations (UN) has proclaimed 21 June as "International Yoga Day". This proclamation came in the wake of the adoption of a measure proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said that yoga allows people "to discover the meaning of oneness with the Self, the world and nature".

The date proposed by India is an important day, being that of the summer solstice - a holiday that has a special significance in many cultures with millenary traditions.

The Indian prime minister wants to give back the proper place to this ancient practice as a central element of Indian culture, unlike the yoga practiced in Western countries, where, in general, this discipline is considered more of a sport.

Narendra Modi has created a special ministry to promote yoga and ayurveda – a form of traditional medicine – and other Indian practices from the ancestors by offering free yoga classes to three million government officials and their families.

All these actions, however, have sparked a series of controversies among religious minorities in India, who accuse the government of imposing a pro-Hindu program in a secular country. Muslim groups have criticized the fact that certain elements during the yoga practice are opposed to Islam.

According to research, yoga appeared about 5000 years ago, attested by the references that are made to it in the old Hindu texts (sees). This ancient spiritual discipline combines bodily postures (asanas) with breathing techniques (pranayama), relaxation and meditation. Yoga experts talk about a "peace of mind" through which the true nature of existence can be understood.

International Yoga Day is celebrated all over the world, and Indian Foreign Ministry Sushma Swaraj said that: "tens of millions of people will do yoga on Sundays." Similar events took place in 251 cities on six continents, and in New York, 30,000 people were expected to practice yoga on Sundays in the famous "Times Square" square.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a crowd of more than 35,000 people who gathered on Sunday in the centre of India's capital, New Delhi, to celebrate International Yoga Day for the first time. The event, meant to enroll India in the Guinness Book of Records, included an extensive 35-minute outdoor yoga session.

Source; http://www.realitatea.net/