Yoga can prevent, cure physical disorders of our modern lifestyle: President Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said that yoga can prevent and cure the physical disorders which arise from the modern lifestyle, adding that these aspects of the discipline will lead to the well-being of humanity.

"Yoga, which is both a science and art, was practiced over centuries... At the initiative of the Government of India, and with the enthusiastic support of a large number of nations of the United Nations, on December 11, 2004 it was declared that henceforth June 21 all over the world will be observed as International Yoga Day," the President said.

"I am happy that the residents of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, many of whom have been practicing yoga for a long period of time, have also decided to participate and commemorate this International Yoga Day, which all recognised experts have admitted, has amazing curing power of many physical disorders which may arise from our modern lifestyle and it also may not only cure it but also prevent it. All these aspects of yoga are to the well-being of humanity," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick-started the International Yoga Day celebrations at Rajpath in the national capital, with over 40,000 people participating in the festivities.

Besides, about two billion people across the globe are expected to participate in the inaugural day of the event.

The yoga celebrations are being organised after the United Nations had in December last year declared June 21 as International Yoga Day, with 177 countries voting in favour.

The proposal was mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the UN General Assembly last year.