PHOTOS: Mantris keep calm and do yoga

The International Yoga Day, a brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was a huge hit on Sunday.

People across the country came out in huge numbers, some even braving the rain.

The PM surprised the nation as he took a mat and practised asanas. His ministers were not far behind. There was Piyush Goyal leading by example in rain-hit Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan led the crowds in Bhopal and Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lucknow. Rediff.com brings you the government's Yoga Day photo album.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh practised yoga at the K D Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow.

He said yoga was India's biggest gift to the world and it cannot be tied to a particular religion, caste or sect.

"Today not only in India, but in the entire world yoga and Ayurveda are being practiced which are integral parts of the country's culture," Rajnath said while addressing a mass yoga session. Photograph: @PIB/Twitter

Complete coverage: Yoga Day, 2015



Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal participates in the mass yoga demonstration, on the occasion of International Yoga Day, in Mumbai. Photograph: PIB 

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar takes part in Yoga Day at RVC Centre at Meerut.  Photograph: @SpokespersonMoD/Twitter

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu participated in a mass yoga demonstration on the occasion of International Yoga Day Celebrations, in Kochi, Kerala. Photograph: PIB

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar practises yoga at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun on Sunday. Photograph: PIB

Braving rain, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Anant Geete and Goyal warm up ahead for a yoga session in Mumbai. Photograph: PIB

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda stretches during a yoga session in Hyderabad. Photograph: PIB

Rajashthan CM Vasundhara Raje leads a Yoga Day event in Jaipur. Joined the world along with thousands of people at SMS stadium in spreading message of peace & harmony through yoga, she tweeted. Photograph: ‏@VasundharaBJP/Twitter



 

Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel meditates during a Yoga Day event on Sunday along with 75,000 citizens in Ahmedabad. Photograph: @anandibepatel/Twitter