Manipur: Mass yoga demonstrations mark International Yoga Day

Our Correspondent

Imphal, June 21: With the theme ‘Yoga for Humanity,’ the 8th International Yoga Day (IYD) was observed in Manipur by performing mass yoga demonstrations across the state.

The observation was organised by the Directorate of Ayush & State AYUSH Society Manipur in coordination with the Directorate of Youth Affairs & Sports, government of Manipur.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with his cabinet colleagues, MLAs, MP, DGP, senior civil and police officials, students and others attended the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Biren Singh said that  though Yoga had been a part of the Indian Society since time immemorial, it was not widely practiced all over the country. However, following the proposal on International Yoga Day by PM Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2014 and declaration of June 21 as International Yoga Day, the day is observed all over the world, he added.

Acknowledging the importance of Yoga he said that many countries have begun to imitate India’s humanism and its way of natural therapy and AYUSH.

In his presidential speech Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan said the 6th and 7th  IYD couldn’t be observed physically because of COVID-19 pandemic, but this year, the day is observed with mass participation as part of the celebration of 75 years of India’s Independence.

During the programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on the occasion of the 8th IYD  from the iconic Mysore Palace, Karnataka was live telecasted.

As a part of the observation, Common Yoga Protocol was also performed by everyone present at the venue.