Officials, students bend to Yoga poses in JK

Notwithstanding the controversies surrounding the much publicized event, International Yoga Day was observed at various places in J&K on Sunday with officially-facilitated functions marking huge participation of students and members of National Cadet Corps.

Early morning many people headed towards open grounds in both the capital cities.  In the summer capital, over one thousand students and NCC cadets assembled at Bakshi Stadium to mark the day. The Yoga session was led by trainers of NCC and Department of Youth Services and Sports.

Hundreds of troopers, NCC cadets and district officials joined yoga sessions in cantonment areas and camps.

The education department had also organized early morning Yoga demonstrations in which many school students and NCC cadets participated.

“Almost 600-700 students from various government schools participated in the International Yoga Day function at Bakshi Stadium. They had come from various districts to perform ‘asanas’ on the day,” said Director School Education Kashmir, Showkat Ahmad Beigh.

Students of Central University of Kashmir (CUK) also performed different ‘asanas’ (movements) of yoga. Later, a seminar was also organized to highlight the essence of yoga. The event was organized in association with Government College of Physical Education, Ganderbal. It was attended by students, teachers and officials of the university.

Similar sessions were held in all the cantonments across Kashmir and Jammu, where soldiers, officers, junior commissioned officers and family members participated in the yoga events.

Though the central government had decided to exclude ‘Surya Namaskar’ and ‘Om’ chanting in the set of ‘asanas’ to be performed during the official celebrations to mark the International Yoga Day, many participants expressed their wish to learn and practice Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) from Yoga trainers.

BJP’s Kashmir unit also organized International Day of Yoga at Jhelum View Park near Rajbagh. The chief guest on the occasion was, Krishan Pal Gujjar, MoS Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

On the occasion, he said it was not just about exercise “but to discover the sense of oneness within you, the world and the nature”.

“There are some vested interests who spread propaganda against Yoga. Who don’t wish to keep mind and body in good health,” he added.

Several Muslim groups had expressed reservations against offering ‘surya namaskar’ and reciting Sanskrit ‘slokas’ during the yoga ‘asanas’ to be performed during Sunday’s event.

Kashmir University Students Union (KUSU) also boycotted the International Day of Yoga calling it ‘enforcement of Indian political system on Kashmiris’.

The celebration of yoga is an initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it was at his behest that the United Nations declared June 21st World Yoga Day. Over 190 countries, including 40 Muslim countries, supported the move to have a special day for yoga. The Indian government set up a separate ministry for yoga last year called Ayush, headed by Shripad Yesso Naik, the Indian tourism minister.