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| India yoga: PM Narendra Modi leads thousands in celebration | India yoga: PM Narendra Modi leads thousands in celebration |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led thousands in a mass yoga programme in the capital, Delhi, on the first ever International Yoga Day. | India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led thousands in a mass yoga programme in the capital, Delhi, on the first ever International Yoga Day. |
| Mr Modi did stretches, bends and breathing exercises with 35,000 school children, bureaucrats and soldiers. | Mr Modi did stretches, bends and breathing exercises with 35,000 school children, bureaucrats and soldiers. |
| Security was tight in the city with thousands of police and paramilitary deployed for Sunday morning's event. | Security was tight in the city with thousands of police and paramilitary deployed for Sunday morning's event. |
| Millions of others are expected to do yoga at similar events planned in hundreds of Indian cities and towns. | Millions of others are expected to do yoga at similar events planned in hundreds of Indian cities and towns. |
| Mr Modi, a yoga enthusiast who says he practises the ancient Indian art daily, lobbied the United Nations to declare 21 June International Yoga Day. | Mr Modi, a yoga enthusiast who says he practises the ancient Indian art daily, lobbied the United Nations to declare 21 June International Yoga Day. |
| Thousands of colourful mats were laid out on Rajpath - King's Avenue - where the main event was held. | Thousands of colourful mats were laid out on Rajpath - King's Avenue - where the main event was held. |
| Officials had earlier said the prime minister will attend the event and address the gathering, but not do yoga. | Officials had earlier said the prime minister will attend the event and address the gathering, but not do yoga. |
| But Mr Modi surprised participants by joining in with the exercises. | But Mr Modi surprised participants by joining in with the exercises. |
| On glacier and at sea | On glacier and at sea |
| Authorities said 35,000 people 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. | Authorities said 35,000 people 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. |
| Guinness officials said they would announce the results in a few hours. | Guinness officials said they would announce the results in a few hours. |
| Yoga was also being performed on the Siachen glacier and the high seas, the defence ministry said. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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: |
| Are you taking part in the first ever International Yoga Day? We would like to see your pictures from one of the many events taking place around the world. You can send your photos and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) number. Alternatively you can send pictures via our WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971. Or you can upload here. | |
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