NEW DELHI, 21 Jun: Military personnel from the three services joined in the International Yoga Day (IYD) celebrations across the country on Friday,performing asanas in varying weather conditions.
While several Army jawans stretched their limbs during sessions held on a range of terrains from Kutch to Kibithu and arid Longewala to Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, Navy personnel showed their yoga skills onboard India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and some naval ships..
In the national capital, a large number of air warriors converged at the Indian Air Force (IAF) station to mark the IYD. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari led the event.
“The 10th IYD was celebrated across the IAF today.. The CAS led the celebrations by performing yoga with IAF personnel at Air Force station New Delhi. The CAS urged everyone to embrace yoga and set forth on a path of serenity to discover the calmness when the mind, body and spirit unite,” the IAF wrote in a post on X and shared photos.
Navy Chief Adm Dinesh K Tripathi attended a session held at Chanakya Bagh here by the Navy.
Indian naval warships mission deployed across the Indian Ocean region and Western Pacific Ocean conducted yoga session at sea and in foreign ports. Indian Navy ships in Kolkata and Tabar in Djibouti, Sunayna in Port Louis, Mauritius, Tarkash in Salalah, Oman, Kamorta in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka and Saryu in Belawan, Indonesia conducted yoga sessions in respective ports, spreading the spirit of yoga across the oceans, a Navy spokesperson said.
The main celebrations of the IDY were led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who took part in an event in Srinagar, while several union ministers participated in yoga sessions held in different parts of the national capital.
Recognising its universal appeal, in December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the IYD by a resolution. The day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga.
“Celebrating the timeless practice of oneness and harmony, the Indian Army celebrated 10th International Day of Yoga across the entire length and breadth of our nation. The event witnessed overwhelming participation by serving personnel, their families, children, veterans, NCC cadets, and civilian fraternity at various locations,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
Yoga was also performed by soldiers deployed at the freezing heights of Siachen glacier in Ladakh to coastal areas of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. The occasion was also celebrated from areas of Longewala in Rajasthan and Kutch in Gujarat to the mountainous terrain of Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh,and Imphal in Manipur, it said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh joined all ranks and their families for the celebrations in the city of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande also attended it.
Several personnel also performed yoga near Pangong Lake in Ladakh.
In Delhi, the IYD was commemorated at the Cariappa parade ground at the Delhi cantonment, where serving Army personnel and defence attaches of friendly foreign countries, along with their families as well as NCC cadets participated. The yoga session there was led by Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi.
Besides India, the IYD was also observed by all Indian Army contingents deployed in the United Nations missions across the globe. The local population there participated in the celebration in overwhelming numbers, the statement said.
Besides, para athletes of the Army at the Army Paralympic Node, the cadets from Army Boys or Girls Sports Company also took part in the event in the country with lot of vigour and enthusiasm, it added.
The local population, including students at various educational establishments, including the border villages also participated in the celebrations, the ministry said.
This year’s IYD theme, ‘Yoga for self and society’, resonated deeply in the celebrations with all personnel reinforcing their commitment and responsibilities in serving the nation, the ministry said.
From the Indian Navy’s side, personnel performed various yogasanas, including surya namaskar, on board warships INS Tarkash and INS Teg, among other ships.
“The International Yoga Day #21Jun, witnesses the Sunrise Command embracing the Sun with #yoga at sea, on the beaches, and naval stations across the Eastern Seaboard #IDY2024 #yogaeverywhere,” the eastern naval command posted on X and also shared photos.
In another statement, the defence ministry said that eight lakh NCC cadets celebrated the occasion by participating in yoga sessions organised by the NCC across the country.
The sessions were organised at numerous schools, colleges and iconic locations, including the Sun Temple in Konark in Odisha, the Red Fort in Delhi, along Dal Lake in Srinagar, the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad, the Sanchi Stupa in MP, the Gateway of India in Mumbai, Nainital Lake in Uttarakhand, Jhansi Fort in Uttar Pradesh, and Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, it added.
Also, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) organised coordinated yoga sessions at over 60 locations across the country to mark the IYD, the ministry said.
The main event was held in New Delhi, which was led by its Director General Rakesh Pal and attended by more than 1,000 personnel and their families. The DG (ICG) while addressing the gathering, highlighted the importance of integrating yoga into daily life, especially for those in demanding roles like the coast guard, it said. (PTI)