Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today held discussions with senior officials regarding the preparations for International Yoga Day. Along with the country, the 8th International Day of Yoga will be celebrated in Madhya Pradesh also on June 21. Yoga could not be practiced publicly due to the circumstances created by Corona in the year 2020 and 2021. Now after a gap of 2 years, there will be public programmes on Yoga Day.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that, on the initiative of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Yoga has acquired international importance. Prime Minister Modi intends to connect the common man with Yoga. Accordingly, the outline of various programmes in the state should be prepared. The importance of Indian Yoga for personal health and fitness has been recognized by many nations of the world. Chief Minister Chouhan said that programmes of collective yoga practice should be organized on the banks of world heritage sites and other historical places like forts and complexes, lakes and rivers of the state.

It may be noted that on the request of Prime Minister Modi, United Nations Organization has recognized 21st June as International Day of Yoga.

Chouhan said that voluntary organizations should also be connected for Yoga Day at major historical places on Azadi ke Amrit Mahotsav. Information about the outline of the Yoga programme at the school level was given by the Education Department.

The Chief Minister directed to ensure participation of students as well as NCC, NSS, police personnel, government servants, public representatives and common citizens in these programmes. He said that efforts should also be made to create awareness among the general public about the benefits of yoga. The 8th International Day of Yoga should be celebrated by including various seminars, workshops, music programmes along with yoga practice. Discussion was held to include the differently-abled category for performing yoga as per convenience.

Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Manish Rastogi, Principal Secretary Culture Department Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary Public Relations Department Raghavendra Kumar Singh besides officers of Education, AYUSH and other departments were present.