First International Day of Yoga sparks tension with Indian Muslims

Today marks the very first International Day of Yoga. But the celebration of this relaxing practice has led to an increase in tensions in some parts of India.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the first International Yoga Day as a "new era of peace", moments before he surprised thousands in New Delhi by taking to a mat himself to participate in the ancient practice. Modi led more than 35,000 people, including bureaucrats, students and soldiers, performing poses such as the half camel and cobra in a 35-minute mass outdoor yoga session beginning early in the morning on a New Delhi boulevard.

Modi himself took part in the exercises, at one point leaving the stage, removing his glasses, and joining in the stretches, breathing, and meditative moves beamed on giant screens along the historic avenue.

But Modi’s personal participation in a mass yoga session this morning sparked a fierce debate  about the government’s support of yoga.

Kamal Farooqui, a member of the Muslim Personal Law Board, said that by promoting yoga, the government is trying to push a Hindu agenda. But an MP from the Hindi nationalist party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said in reply that any Muslims opposed to yoga should “go drown in the sea.”

The Indian PM was in the mood for peace this morning, however.“Yoga is more than only physical fitness. We are not only celebrating a day but we are training the human mind to begin a new era of peace," Modi told the crowd.

"This is a programme for human welfare, a tension-free world and a programme to spread the message of love, peace and goodwill," said the premier, wearing a white outfit with a national tricolour scarf.

The day’s biggest proponent is the Indian Prime Minister, who had petitioned the UN to make the event an international one. Countries around the world are marking the occasion today with around 30,000 people are expected to perform yoga at Times Square in New York.

In his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly, Modi proposed to dedicate a day devoted to the ancient Indian discipline, prompting the UN to proclaim June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

The prime minister, who credits yoga for his ability to work long hours on little sleep, had been scheduled only to make a speech at Rajpath, where colourful mats were lined across the stretch that connects the president's palace with the iconic India Gate monument.

Central Delhi was sealed off and carpeted, with dozens of metal detectors and multiple checkpoints erected for the big day that saw other VIPs including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal participate. The celebrations are estimated to cost the Indian government around 300m rupees (approximately €4,161,000)

People in 650 districts joined in, with pictures being posted to Twitter from across the country.

The latest census figures suggest that 80 per cent of India's citizens are Hindu. 13.4 per cent of the population describe themselves as Muslim.

Organisers are hoping the event qualifies for the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest yoga class at a single venue.