Yoga Day celebrations much better than expectations: Sushma Swaraj

NEW YORK: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said that the enthusiasm with which the first UN International Yoga Day was celebrated across the world was much better than the expectations of her government.

She said the highlight of the commemoration at the UN was that UN Secretary General ban Ki-moon, his wife, congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and the President of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa themselves practised yoga when spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar conducted the yoga session at the UN.

Swaraj said she was pleased that the International Yoga Day commemoration was much better than the expectations of the Indian government.

She termed the event at the UN as among the most significant across all cities of the world and added that the most significant fact that astonished her was that the UN chief and his wife participated in the whole protocol of yoga.

The minister said that Yoga is considered the heritage of India but its popularity, acceptance and power in the world was demonstrated yesterday at the International Yoga Day.

Along with national integration, yoga is facilitating humanity integration also and the yoga day was celebrated by breaking the barriers and differences of caste religion nationality across the world, she said while talking to a TV channel on the last day of her trip to the city.

Swaraj also met UNGA president Sam Kutesa and a number of diplomats from several countries.