PM Narendra Modi to address nation on International Yoga Day on June 21; 10 million people likely to perform Surya Namaskar

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the nation on the occasion of International Yoga Day on Sunday (June 21). PM Modi was earlier scheduled to visit Leh for Yoga Day and address the nation from but the plans were altered in light of COVID-19 situation in the country. 

The PM will now be delivering a speech from the national capital.

According to official sources, PM Modi will speak about the importance of Yoga Day. He is also expected to practice a few Yoga poses on live TV. The live telecast of the Prime Minister’s ''Address to the Nation'' will begin at 6:40 AM, however, the event will begin at 6:15 AM on Sunday.

His address and the event will be broadcast on DD National, DD News, All India Radio, besides social media handles of PM Narendra Modi. 

Last year, PM Modi was the chief guest at a mega event on the occasion of the International Yoga Day. The event was held in Ranchi. 

Meanwhile, Union Culture Minister Prahlad Patel has expressed hope that nearly 10 million people will join him in performing Surya Namaskar on this year's International Day of Yoga on Sunday.

With the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic looming large, International Day of Yoga will be celebrated on digital media platforms sans mass gatherings and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message would be the main highlight of the occasion.

Yoga Day will go digital for the first time since June 21, 2015, when it began to be celebrated annually across the world, coinciding with the Summer Solstice each year.

This year's theme is 'Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family' and people will be able to join the celebrations virtually at 6 am on June 21.

“I will perform Surya Namaskar at Purana Qila and I urge everybody to join me in performing Surya Namaskar from their homes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the gift of Yoga Day to the world and we should practice Yoga in our daily life,” Patel said in a statement issued by the Ministry of Culture.

The minister also posted a video message on social media and urged all to share their Surya Namaskar videos with #10MillionSuryaNamaskar & #NamasteYoga hashtags on social media platforms so that it can become a public movement and creates health awareness among fellow citizens.

“I hope that around 10 million people will join him in performing Surya Namaskar on International Yoga Day 2020,” he said.