On the occasion of the 7th International Day of Yoga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the lead event about the importance of Yoga as a weapon against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Yoga has emerged as a ray of hope amid the COVID-19 pandemic," he said in his address.

Speaking of the popularity that Yoga has gained during the pandemic, the Prime Minister also said, "In spite of COVID-19, Yoga and wellness have only increased people's enthusiasm for yoga and Yoga Day."

He went on to speak about how yoga provides holistic health, by targetting both physical and mental fitness.

"Yoga shows us the way from stress to strength and from negativity to creativity. Yoga takes us from depression to ecstasy and from ecstasy to 'prasad'," said Modi, speaking at the virtual event that began at 6:30 AM on Moday.

Prime Minister Modi also took the opportunity to announce the M-Yoga App.

International Day of Yoga was first recognised by the United Nations as an international event in 2014 and has been celebrated annually since.

Prime Minister Modi, in his address speaks of the international acceptance that Yoga has got since then, says, "it was the spirit behind it that makes yoga accessible to the whole world."

This year's theme is 'yoga for wellness'.

(Written with inputs from IANS.)