KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
When Narendra Modi attended his first session at United Nations in New York after taking over as Prime Minister of India last year, one of the things which he ensured is implemented across globe was ‘Practicing Yoga’.
Acting on the submission made by Indian government in the world body, UN General Assembly declared June 21 as the ‘International Day of Yoga’ on December 11, 2014.
In a first, the Modi led right wing BJP government made all arrangements so that ‘Yoga Day’ is observed across mainland. Although, Modi led campaign in ensuring implementation of Yoga Day had many critique but the Hindutva government went ahead. The Modi led government was accused of giving religious colour to the event.
The PDP-BJP Jammu and Kashmir government appealed people to make the event ‘successful’. It decided to establish ‘International Yoga Centre’ at Udhampur as well.
Sensing ‘few takers’, the army took lead and decided to hold Yoga events across the Valley and Ladakh regions.
A defence statement issued Sunday afternoon said,” Kashmiri NCC cadets, both boys and girls, joined the Army in Yoga as a part of healthy lifestyle initiative.”
The statement added, “Srinagar based Chinar Corps joined the local youth by conducting yoga as part of their daily physical activity, in addition to physical training, in all parts of the Valley including in high altitude posts.”
The statement said that army held Yoga Day at eight venues in Kashmir and Ladakh viz Srinagar, Baramulla, Uri, Bandipora Tangdhar, Islamabad, Kupwara, Gulmarg, Kargil and Leh.
“Over 4700 NCC cadets participated with zeal and enthusiasm across these venues. These NCC cadets had undergone structured training on Yoga by trained Yoga instructors. The training of the cadets commenced in mid April 2015 and the standard was evident with the synchronised, well timed as well as the confidence and case with which these cadets performed today in unison,” the statement asserted.
In the Hindu culture, the first transmission of yoga by Shiva – the first Hindu Guru – is said to have begun on this day.
History tells us that Yoga is a “physical, mental and spiritual practice”. It originated over 6000 years ago in sub-continent. “It integrates the body and the mind.” From the perspective of yoga, the Summer Solstice marks the transition to “Dakshinayana”.
Even though the proposal (International Yoga Day) had been propounded ten years ago in UN but it was passed only last year after Modi’s appeal and a record number of countries – 177, including Egypt, co-sponsored the resolution. The UN had already conducted 18 awareness-raising days of observance, reports maintain.
The army statement claimed that ‘Yoga Celebrations’ at Bakhshi Stadium, Srinagar had a “participation of over 1200 NCC cadets”. “A similar strength celebrated the day at the picturesque Leh,” it added.
“The event was a phenomenal success and the credit goes to the cadets for their willing participation,” Brigadier S S Ratnaparkhi, Group Commander, NCC Group Headquarters, Srinagar said.
Modi, after three months taking over as PM had stated in UN, “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.”
It was Modi who suggested June 21 (Summer Solstice) be declared as ‘Yoga Day’; why? “Because,” he said, “the date is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and has special significance in many parts of the world.”
Brigadier expressed gratitude to the Principals of Colleges and Schools and the parents of the cadets for their wholehearted support, the statement informed. Similar function was held at CRPF recruitment and training centre at Humhama.
“It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness within yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change. Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day,” PM Modi had asserted.
The army statement further mentioned that Chinar Corps had observed 15 to 21 June 2015 as a ‘Yoga Week’ wherein NCC cadets from all the Colleges and Schools and the troops of Chinar Corps in the Valley practiced Yoga on a daily basis and finally observed 21 June 2015 as the ‘International Yoga Day’, thereby marking this event as “a grand success”.
Reports quoting army’s Udhampur based Northern Command spokesperson, SD Goswami said that its personnel today celebrated the inaugural International Yoga Day at Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest military base.
“Army men in large numbers attended events organised at Siachen, Kargil and other forward locations. The event at Leh was attended by over 500 personnel,” he said.
Meanwhile, a statement from Ishfaq-Ur-Rehman Poswal, BJP activist, from North Kashmir’s Kupwara while performing a series of “Yoga exercises” in the bordering town of Tangdhar, 180 KM from Srinagar pitched for introducing the “Yoga Education” in curriculum in Jammu and Kashmir state, especially.
“More significantly, Yoga will keep children away from different types of diseases which they are prone to. I urge both centre and state government to introduce the “Yoga” as a subject in the curriculum at the earliest. The government should also engage Yoga experts to impart necessary skills to the students,” he said.
