This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-33212949
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| India yoga: Thousands attend Modi-inspired event | India yoga: Thousands attend Modi-inspired event |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands have taken part in a mass yoga programme in the Indian capital, Delhi, on the first ever International Yoga Day. | |
| Security was tight in the city with thousands of police and paramilitary deployed for Sunday morning's event. | |
| Thousands of colourful mats were laid out on Rajpath - King's Avenue - where the main event was held. | |
| Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed participants, but officials said he would not do any yoga himself. | |
| Mr Modi, a yoga enthusiast who says he practices the ancient Indian art daily, lobbied the United Nations to declare 21 June International Yoga Day. | Mr Modi, a yoga enthusiast who says he practices the ancient Indian art daily, lobbied the United Nations to declare 21 June International Yoga Day. |
| On glacier and at sea | On glacier and at sea |
| Authorities say more than 35,000 bureaucrats, soldiers and students attended the 35-minute yoga session on Rajpath, aimed at setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest yoga class at a single venue. | |
| Millions of others were expected to do yoga at similar events planned in hundreds of Indian cities and towns. | |
| Yoga was also being performed on the Siachen glacier and the high seas, the defence ministry said. | |
| The day is also being celebrated around the world and Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj says "tens of millions" will do yoga on Sunday. | |
| Ms Swaraj herself will be in New York where she will attend the celebrations with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. In Times Square, 30,000 people are expected to do yoga. | Ms Swaraj herself will be in New York where she will attend the celebrations with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. In Times Square, 30,000 people are expected to do yoga. |
| But the day, being billed as one to promote "harmony and peace", has hit a controversial note with some Muslim organisations saying yoga is essentially a Hindu religious practice and is against Islam. | But the day, being billed as one to promote "harmony and peace", has hit a controversial note with some Muslim organisations saying yoga is essentially a Hindu religious practice and is against Islam. |
| Many others say Mr Modi's Hindu nationalist government has an agenda in promoting the ancient Indian discipline. However, the authorities deny the charge - they say participation in the yoga day is not mandatory and reports that Muslims are opposed to yoga are exaggerated. | Many others say Mr Modi's Hindu nationalist government has an agenda in promoting the ancient Indian discipline. However, the authorities deny the charge - they say participation in the yoga day is not mandatory and reports that Muslims are opposed to yoga are exaggerated. |
| International Yoga Day in numbers: | International Yoga Day in numbers: |