Assam joined the rest of the world in celebrating the fourth International Day of Yoga as chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, health and family welfare minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union minister of state for railways Rajen Gohian along with others flexed their muscles with thousands of yoga enthusiasts to celebrate the day at Nurul Amin Stadium in Nagaon on June 21.
The state programme, which was organized by the department of health and family welfare jointly with directorate of AYUSH, received spontaneous response from a huge gathering as thousands gathered at the venue to practice yoga to mark the fourth International Day of Yoga.
The two-hour event ‘Yoga for Peace and Harmony’, included diverse Yogasanas to benefit the social, personal, physical, physiological, mental, psychological, intellectual and spiritual faculty of the participants. People from diverse backgrounds participated in the yoga sessions and performed asanas, pranayama, breathing exercises etc.
Addressing the gathering, chief minister Sonowal said that yoga practices yield immense positive effects which can reinforce peace and harmony and urged upon everybody to practice yoga resolutely. Sonowal also appealed to the people at large to make the International Day of Yoga an opportunity to take a resolute decision to remove all kinds of superstitions and defeat all forces guided by sheer superstitions.
Referring to the recent incidents of the state which were the manifestations of blind faith and superstitions, Sonowal said, “Let this International Day of Yoga be an occasion to take an informed decision to rise against superstitions.”
Health and family welfare minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that science has already proved the utility of yoga which can lead to physical and mental wellbeing. Acceptance of yoga as an international event is indeed a testimony to India’s global role with regard to yoga.
Former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, MLAs Rupak Sarma, Dimbeswar Das, Utpal Dutta, Angoorlata Deka and a host of other dignitaries also participated in the yoga day celebrations.
