It was due to relentless efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi entire world gave recognition to yoga which represents Indian culture, said Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on Thursday.
Addressing thousands of yoga performers assembled at Sardar Patel stadium to mark ‘World Yoga Day’, Rupani said that the world has recognised the importance of India’s universal yoga asana to lead a stress-free life, necessary to awaken universal and establish universal brotherhood.
He expressed satisfaction at 75 lakh people joining the mass yoga performance in the State, not a small feat though. He appealed to the people to make yoga a daily habit to lead a healthy life. He said the state government is committed to promote yoga, and hence college and university students are imparted training in yoga.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor OP Kohli said that yoga is a unique confluence of Indian culture, tradition and knowledge, now internationally acknowledged due to efforts by PM Modi, a matter of pride for all of us. Yoga is an effective means to link body, mind and soul with the ultimate soul. He said that yoga has also been found effective in Indian systems of medicine, and all the more relevant in modern times for stress and strain.
Union Minister of State for law and Justice PP. Chaudhary said that entire globe has accepted how Yoga is beneficial for health of body and mind. During the function the Governor and the Chief Minister felicitated the winners of the state and district level yoga competitions organised as part of the ‘Khel Mahakumbh’ – an initiative taken by PM Modi when he was Gujarat chief minister to promote sports in the state.
Meanwhile sources in the state government said that World Yoga Day was celebrated across the state at more than 43300 centres and nearly 1.25 crore people participated by performing various ‘Aasanas’. Various religious and social organisations too arrange mass Yoga sessions in coordination with the state government.
Armed forces too join in celebration as the International Day of Yoga was celebrated by Indian Navy at INS Valsura, Jamnagar through a series of activities. A four-day mass Yoga camp was organised from 18 Jun to 21 Jun for all Valsura personnel, including staff, trainees, DSC personnel and families. Yoga instructors from Patanjali Yoga Shivir and Yoga qualified PT sailors of the unit conducted the camps at various locations. To spread maximum awareness about the benefits of Yoga, a quiz and poster making competition was also organized for children and ladies.
Sources in defence forces said that to commemorate the fourth ‘International Day of Yoga’ the Golden Katar Divison of Indian Army at Ahmedabad organized Yoga Session for its troops on 21 Jun. ‘Peace, Happiness and Health’ was the theme for the event. The officers, jawans and families practiced Yoga early in the morning. The program culminated with Meditation and National Anthem.
The benefits of yogic postures, breathing techniques and meditation were explained to the participants. Indian Air Force station Jamnagar also held a session of Yoga with a theme of ‘Health for all’ for air warrior and their family members.
Yoga sessions were organised at BSF headquarters Gujarat Frontier and all the BSF establishments up to BOPs under Gujarat including in sand dunes of Barmer and floating BOPs and creeks of Kutch district, said Ajay Kumar Tomar, IPS, IG, BSF Frontier Gujarat.