Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has retained power for three consecutive terms as Prime Minister of India, has attracted global attention for spearheading the International Day of Yoga 2024 with a mega yoga event to be held at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on June 21. Twenty districts of Jammu and Kashmir will be connected virtually and at least 2,000 participants from each district are expected to come together to take part in a yoga session with the Prime Minister, taking the number of participants to over 50,000. The theme for 2024 will be “Yoga for yourself and society” and the 10 themes will be “Yoga for yourself and society”.Number The series began as a global event nine years ago and has continued ever since.”
Last year, PM Modi led the celebrations of International Yoga Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on June 21, where people from all walks of life including diplomats, academics, entrepreneurs, leaders, artists and leading cultural figures from 180 countries participated in the celebrations. Notably, in his maiden address to the UN General Assembly after being elected Prime Minister of India in 2014, PM Modi described Yoga, an ancient Indian tradition, as an invaluable gift to humanity and called for the adoption of International Yoga Day, a call that garnered an unanimous response from the world.
The declaration of June 21 as International Yoga Day was one of the landmark achievements of the Modi government, notably during his first year in power.
Yoga is the art and science of healthy living
Yoga, which originated in India, is one of the oldest sciences known to man, dating back more than 5,000 years, and possibly even 10,000 years. The origins of yoga can be traced back to the ancient Indus-Saraswati civilization of northern India, as documented in the Rig Veda.
The word “Yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root “YUJ” which means “to join”, “to connect” or “to join”. Yoga is a practice that holds immense wisdom. It teaches us to connect our personal consciousness with the Universal Consciousness and to develop a beautiful harmony between the mind, body and the world around us. The purpose of Yoga is to help us realise our true selves and embark on a journey of self-discovery.
Prime Minister Modi’s unique initiative
In modern times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has played a key role in promoting yoga and taking it to the global stage. The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as International Yoga Day in 2014 with an aim to raise awareness about the benefits of yoga and encourage its practice across the globe. Moreover, Yoga Day being celebrated across the globe will serve as a constant reminder for all generations to come of the Modi-led government’s success abroad and overall measures to enhance India’s global image.
Since 2014, the world has come together each year on June 21 to celebrate International Day of Yoga, celebrating and promoting the practice of yoga and exploring its potential to bring harmony, balance and well-being to individuals and communities around the world. This day in particular holds special significance as it coincides with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The summer solstice symbolizes the transition from darkness to light, reflecting the transformative journey that yoga can bring to one’s life.
Yoga in Jammu and Kashmir
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads 10 countries,Number As the first edition of Yoga Day in Srinagar, the celebration of Yoga Day across the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be exemplary as people from different backgrounds will come together to celebrate the occasion with enthusiasm and joy. However, given the long-term instability and sedentary lifestyle affecting the region, it is important that it becomes more than an annual celebration. Kashmir, like many other places, faces issues like anxiety, depression, neurosis and other ailments, and there is a need to incorporate yoga into the daily curriculum, especially in schools.
To effectively address these challenges, it is essential to make Yoga a compulsory subject in schools. Incorporating Yoga into the daily life of children offers a lot of benefits to their overall health. Similarly, in addition to celebrating Yoga Day, Yoga should also be introduced in colleges and universities.
Additionally, in areas where the menace of drugs is prevalent, free yoga centers should be established to combat the menace. To encourage community participation and establishment of yoga centers, incentives can be offered to individuals interested in opening such centers. This approach will help develop a sense of ownership and responsibility among local residents, contributing to the overall well-being of the community.
With these measures in place, yoga can act as a powerful tool to combat the drug menace, promote physical and mental health, and foster a healthier and more harmonious society in Kashmir.
Promoting a yoga centre in Kashmir will be a precious and thoughtful gift to the people of Kashmir, empowering them to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives amidst the challenges they face.
Meanwhile, yoga as a mantra, in the words of PM Modi, has a significant meaning for every Indian, especially with the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal. “Through yoga, we know selfless acts and decide the path from karma to karma yoga,” he asserts. Yoga, he says, has the potential to foster the physical strength and mental expansion required to create a developed India by 2047.
(The author is a freelance writer. Courtesy of PIB)