For the first time,the entire world will be celebrating ‘International Yoga Day’ tomorrow.To mark the event,www.jharkhandstatenews.com interviewed 1001 residents on mobile seeking their opinion on Yoga.

They belonged to all sections of society-Hindu,Muslim,Christian,Sikh,Budhist and Jains.Though 30.4 percent people preferred not to answer,forty six percent people said they have no knowledge of Yogya.About nine percent people said Yoga is an ‘exercise’.

The rest 20.6 percent people thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making this historic day possible.However,none of them expressed answer in positive about the PM Modi’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 27,2014 which prompted UN General Assembly to adopt it as “International Day of Yoga’on December 11,2014.

Remarkably,this is for the first time the United general Assembly had adopted the suggestion made by the Prime Minister of India by 177 countries.Against this backdrop,www.jharkhandstatenews.com is enclosing the exact speech delivered by the PM Modi on Yoga.
PM Narendra Modi said at follows at the UN General Assembly
“I want to say three things.

One, we should be honest in shouldering our responsibilities in meeting the challenges. The world had agreed on a beautiful balance of collective action – common but differentiated responsibilities. That should form the basis of continued action. This also means that the developed countries must fulfill their commitments for funding and technology transfer.

Second, national action is imperative. Technology has made many things possible. We need imagination and commitment.India is prepared to share its technology and capabilities, just as we have announced a free satellite for the SAARC countries.

Third, we need to change our lifestyles. Energy not consumed is the cleanest energy.

We can achieve the same level of development, prosperity and well being without necessarily going down the path of reckless consumption. It doesn’t mean that economies will suffer; it will mean that our economies will take on a different character. For us in India, respect for nature is an integral part of spiritualism.

We treat nature s bounties as sacred. Yoga is an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day. Finally, We are at a historic moment. Every age is defined by its character; and, each generation is remembered for how it rose together to meet its challenges.We have that responsibility to rise to our challenges now.

Nowhere is this more pronounced than in this great assembly, we should ask ourselves whether we should wait until we are 80 or 100. Let us fulfill our promise to reform the United Nations Security Council by 2015. Let us fulfill our pledge on a Development Agenda so that there is new hope and belief in us around the world. Let us make also a new watershed for a sustainable world. Let it be the beginning of a new journey together.
More,PM Modi added:

Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness within yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day.

While suggesting June 21, which is the Summer Solstice, as the International Day of Yoga, Narendra Modi had said that the date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.

From the perspective of yoga, the Summer Solstice marks the transition to Dakshinayana. The first full moon after Summer Solstice is known as Guru Poornima.

According to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, in the yogic lore, the first transmission of yoga by Shiva, the first Guru, is said to have begun on this day. Dakshinayana is also considered a time when there is natural support for those pursuing spiritual practices.Govind Gurbani Yog Guru / Vice President of Rajasthan Swasthya Yog Parisad Jaipur India informed that on 21 June fifty thousand followers of Yoga will perform Yoga in Rajasthan.

Source:
1.UN General Assembly
2.Wikipedia