Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Tuesday said the three-day yoga camp here was precursor of the World Yoga Day celebrations to be held in Chandigarh on June 21.
Khattar, who had visited the yoga camp, while talking to the mediapersons said, “Over thousands of people performed yoga at the camp and drew inspiration. They would also participate in the June 21 celebrations.”
"People from various districts, especially from Panchkula and Ambala, are participating in the camp. Besides, around 5,000 yoga practitioners will be joining from Patanjali Yogpeeth," said the Chief Minister.
On June 21, around 30,000 yoga practitioners would participate in the national yoga event at Chandigarh which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As many as 10,500 participants from Haryana would participate in the programme, said Manohar lal.
Describing the International Yoga Day as historical, the Chief Minister said that more than 5000 years old yoga heritage of India would reach worldwide on June 21. He also lauded the efforts of Patanjali Yogpeeth and Member, Yoga Special Committee in Union Ministry of Ayush Jayadeep Arya for promoting yoga in Haryana.
The Chief Minister also announced to give Rs 5000 each to all participating children of Acharyakulum and gave away certificates of appreciation to students of Gurukul, Ghaseda. He also honoured trainers of Patanjli by presenting them with shawls.
Speaking to the mediapersons, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev said more than 10,000 activists are working in Haryana and over one lakh activists of Patanjali Yogpeeth are working across the nation for the June 21 function.
Over one lakh people are participating in the function, which is taking place from June 17-21, including at Faridabad. A big platform has been created for yoga across the nation and 5-10 crore people will participate in the function across the country, said he.
Ramdev also announced to open Acharya Kulam school branches across Haryana to ensure that moral-based, yoga aided education is provided to thousands of students.
As far as standardisation of yoga is concerned, he said, in the absence of standard practice there could be wrong impression among people about yoga and things could go in the wrong direction as well.
He added, “Hence, for the first time, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Quality Council of India (QCI) is working for the standardisation of yoga. From the US to the European Nations and also in China, Japan and Russia, some people were trying to perform yoga differently.”
As the root of yoga is in India, thus India should make a head start in this direction. Prime Minister has given responsibility to QCI for the standardisation of yoga, said he.
Ramdev further said, "Two-three meetings have already been conducted and the syllabus has been finalised. Yoga has three parts, yogic philosophy, physical practice like aasnas, mudra, pranayam, meditation etc, and yogic aacharan (behaviour), and taking together all these three elements, the QCI has about to finish the standardisation work."
"Besides this, certification work is also about to be completed and people practising yoga should take certificates for its universal application,” said he.
When asked huge money is being spent on the function, Ramdev said, "Spending money on yoga is good use of money.”
Meanwhile, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij announced that all formalities to upgrade Shri Krishna Government Ayurvedic College, Kurukshetra to Shri Krishna AYUSH University would soon be completed and courses of all systems under AYUSH would be introduced in this University.
He said that with the setting up of the University, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in all AYUSH systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy would be started in the state.
The Minister added that the Department is in the process of deputing one medical officer, one ayurvedic medical officer and one dentist in each Primary Health Centre in rural areas.