International Yoga Day: "Yoga is above region, above faith, above everything", says PM Modi at mega celebration in Ranchi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday performed Yoga with around 40,000 enthusiasts at Prabhat Tara ground and said everybody should practice ancient Indian discipline lifelong. Jharkhand capital was selected as venue for main event for 5th International Day of Yoga. Events to mark day are being held across country and several of m are being led by Union ministers, including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.

PM Modi also said government has been working to make Yoga a pillar of preventive healthcare.

Expressing concern that young people are becoming vulnerable to heart ailments, Modi said, "Yoga can play a huge role in tackling issue and hence, this year's me is 'Yoga for Heart'." 

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He also appealed to people to take yoga to all sections of society.

"We should make efforts to take yoga from cities to vills, tribal areas. Yoga is above region, above faith, above everything," Modi told garing.

He also stressed that for yoga to become popular, infrastructure for it must be strengned and said government was working towards it.

Urging people to make yoga a part of daily life, Modi said:

"Peace and harmony are related to Yoga. People across world must practice it." 

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prime minister had arrived here Thursday night to participate in main event on International Yoga Day. Since 2015, International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually on June 21.