New Delhi

Highlighting the importance of Yoga in physical, spiritual and intellectual wellbeing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday urged the countrymen to adopt Yoga in their daily life.

In the 89th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Modi said, "Next month on June 21, we are going to celebrate the 8th 'International Yoga Day', and the theme of 'Yoga Day' is - Yoga for Humanity.

"I would urge all of you to celebrate 'Yoga Day' with great enthusiasm. Also, follow COVID protocols. By the way, the situation now is looking better than earlier across the whole world. On account of more and more vaccination coverage, people now are going out more than ever. Therefore, a lot of preparations are also being seen all over the world for 'Yoga Day'," said PM Modi.

Prime Minister said the COVID pandemic has made all of us realize the overarching importance of health in our lives and Yoga being a great medium in ensuring the same. Prime Minister said the COVID pandemic has made all of us realize the overarching importance of health in our lives and Yoga being a great medium in ensuring the same.

He further said, "People are experiencing how much physical, spiritual and intellectual well being is receiving a boost through Yoga. From the world's top business persons to film and sports personalities, from students to common people, everyone is making yoga an integral part of one's life.

This time I have come to know about some very innovative examples being held on 'Yoga Day' in the country and abroad. One of these is Guardian Ring - it will be a very unique programme. In this, the movement of the Sun will be celebrated, that is, as the sun travels, we will welcome it through Yoga from different parts of the earth."

PM Modi said Indian missions in different countries will organize Yoga programs at sunrise according to the local time there. The program will successively commence, following one country after another. The journey from east to west will go on continuously and on these lines, it will proceed accordingly. Streaming of these programs will also be linked one after the other. It will be a kind of relay Yoga streaming event.

Prime Minister said the International Yoga Day will also be organized at 75 major places in the country. On this occasion, many organizations are preparing to do something innovative at their own levels, in their respective fields.

"I would urge you also this time to celebrate Yoga Day, choose any place in your city, town or village which is most special. This place can be an ancient temple and tourist centre, or it could be the banks of a famous river, lake or pond. With this, along with yoga, the identity of your area will also be reinforced and tourism will also get a boost," urged PM Modi.

Prime Minister said the 100-day countdown leading Prime Minister said the 100-day countdown leading to Yoga Day has already begun three months ago. Along these lines, there have been countdown programs of the 100th day and 75th day in Delhi. Similarly, 50th Countdown events were organized in Sivasagar, Assam and 25th in Hyderabad. "I wish you should also start preparations for 'Yoga Day' on your own right now.

Meet more and more people, urge everyone to join the program of 'Yoga Day'; inspire them. I am sure that all of you will participate enthusiastically in the 'Yoga Day', as well as adopt yoga in your daily life," he added

Meanwhile lauding the India-Japan cultural ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 89th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday mentioned two Japanese, who have been staging Mahabharat and Ramayana in Asian countries. "During my recent visit to Japan, I met some wonderful personalities of Japan who have immense love for India. One of them is Hiroshi Koike, an art director, who directed the 'Mahabharat Project'," mentioned PM Modi.

He further stated that this project was started in Cambodia and it is continuing for the last nine years. "Hiroshi Koike performs every task in a very different way. Every year, he travels to one country in Asia and produces parts of the Mahabharata with local artists and musicians there," said PM Modi. PM Modi said that through this project, Koike has done productions and given stage performances in nine countries, including India, Cambodia and Indonesia.

"Hiroshi Koike brings together artists who have had a diverse background in Classical and Traditional Asian Performing Art. Because of that, different hues are seen in his work. Performers from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan make it more attractive through Java dance, Balinese dance, Thai dance.

The special thing is that in this each performer speaks in his own mother tongue and the choreography very beautifully displays this diversity and the diversity of music makes this production more lively," said the Prime minister. He said that the aim of their performance is to bring to the fore the importance of diversity and co-existence in society and what peace should really be like.

Besides them, PM Modi also mentioned Atsushi Matsuo and Kenji Yoshi, who are from TEM Production Company, which is associated with the Japanese Animation Film based on He said that the aim of their performance is to bring to the fore the importance of diversity and co-existence in society and what peace should really be like. Besides them, PM Modi also mentioned Atsushi Matsuo and Kenji Yoshi, who are from TEM Production Company, which is associated with the Japanese Animation Film based on Ramayana that was released in 1993. This project was associated with Japan's very famous film director Yugo Sako. "About 40 years ago, in 1983, they came to know about Ramayana for the first time. 'Ramayana' touched his heart, after which he started researching deeply on it. Not only that, they also read 10 versions of Ramayana in the Japanese language, and he did not stop at this, as he also wanted to showcase it through animation," he said.

He said that Indian animators also helped them in making of the film. "In this, Indian animators also helped him a lot. He was guided about the Indian customs and traditions shown in the film. He was told how people in India wear dhoti, how they wear saree, how they groom their hair... How children respect each other within the family, what the tradition of blessing is! Waking up in the morning, offering salutation to the elders of the household, seeking their blessings - all these things!" he added. The Prime Minister said the animation film is being made again and is likely to be completed soon.

"People living thousands of kilometers away from us in Japan, who don't know our language, who don't know much about our traditions, their dedication to our culture, this reverence, this respect, is very commendable - which Indian would not be proud of that!" he added. Prime Minister recently visited Tokyo, Japan to attend the Quad Leaders' Summit.