Bratislava, June 16
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini watched a special yoga performance by Slovak schoolchildren during a visit to Bratislava as celebrations ahead of International Yoga Day gathered momentum. Modi, who is visiting Slovakia as part of a week-long tour of Europe, said he was pleased to see young people embracing yoga, describing it as a practice that continues to bring people together through well-being.
Sharing images from the event on social media, he said the demonstration reflected the growing global appeal of yoga ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21. The two leaders also toured an exhibition dedicated to Varanasi, one of India’s oldest and most culturally significant cities. The display featured artwork created by Slovak artists who had recently visited the city, offering a glimpse into cultural links between the two countries.
Modi praised the artists involved, saying art and culture have a unique ability to connect people across borders. During his visit, the Prime Minister also met Slovak literary scholar Dr Robert Gafrik, who led a five-year project to translate the ten principal Upanishads from Sanskrit into Slovak.
The translation, published by the Slovak Academy of Sciences’ publishing house VEDA, is believed to be the first complete Slovak-language edition of these ancient Indian philosophical texts. Modi described Dr Gafrik’s dedication to Indian history, culture and spirituality as commendable. The translation project was previously recognised by the Indian leader during his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme in 2024.
The Upanishads, written between the 7th and 5th centuries BC, are among the most influential texts in Hindu philosophy and continue to shape spiritual thought around the world.
