Armed forces mark Yoga Day from Siachen to the seas

From the icy heights of Siachen Glacier to the vast Rann of Kutch, and from the hills of the northeast to naval platforms at sea, the armed forces observed the International Day of Yoga across the country, reaffirming their commitment to physical fitness and mental resilience.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the celebrations in Shillong, as he, accompanied by IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and other air warriors, took part in a yoga session hosted by the Eastern Air Command.

“Celebrating the International Yoga Day at Eastern Air Command in Shillong. I urge everyone to make Yoga an integral part of their lives,” he said in a post on social media and also shared a video of the session. Chief of Defence Staff Gen NS Raja Subramani led the Yoga Day celebrations organised by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff at the National War Memorial in Delhi. Meanwhile, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi fronted the celebrations with troops in Tezpur, Assam.

“His participation alongside soldiers in the Eastern theatre symbolised the Army’s continued emphasis on fitness, resilience and operational readiness in all terrains and conditions,” a senior official said.

This year marks the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) with the theme ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, which emphasises the importance of yoga for all ages.

“From the icy heights of Siachen Glacier to the southern tip at Kanyakumari; from the land of the rising sun in the northeast to the vast expanse of the Rann of Kutch, soldiers performed yoga in diverse and challenging terrains, reaffirming their commitment to physical fitness, mental well-being and holistic health,” the Army said in a post on social media. The celebrations reflected the Indian Army’s ethos of discipline, resilience and wellness, while reinforcing yoga’s role in promoting a healthy lifestyle and enhancing operational effectiveness. In the national capital, the Indian Army hosted the event at the Cariappa Parade Ground at Delhi Cantonment.

Army jawans and others, positioned in a huge grid formation, stretched their arms and legs to perform various ‘asanas’. Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, participated in the yoga session at the Cariappa Parade Ground with over 3,500 enthusiastic participants, including several personnel and their family members, veterans, women, children, NCC cadets and many civilians, officials said.