N-E states celebrate International Yoga Day

Guwahati, June 21 (PTI) The northeastern states of the country today celebrated the third International Day of Yoga with thousands of school children and people from all walks of life enthusiastically performing yoga asanas. Union ministers, state ministers, personnel of paramilitary forces, NCC cadets and sports personalities participated in yoga camps spread across the region.
Locals defied the call given by churches and an influential youth organisation in Mizoram and performed yoga at the Assam Rifles ground in Aizawl. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, his government would extend facilities for yoga to all school children, panchayat offices, tea gardens and interior char areas.
This was being done as yoga was an integral part for maintaining good health, the chief minister said.
Senior Assam minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said, the state government has decided to set up 100 block level yoga training centres with the help of Patanjali Yoga Kendra of yoga guru Ramdev.
In Arunachal Pradesh, the main function was organised at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Naharlagun by the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in which more than 1000 people participated. Braving overnight downpour, people joined the programme. 1 The day was also observed at Indira Gandhi Park here. State Governor P B Acharya in his message said, “Yoga provides physical and mental well being of the people. For sound health and mind, we need to incorporate Yoga as part of our daily life.” In Tripura, two Union Ministers Faggan Singh Kulaste and Babul Supriyo participated in yoga camps. The main programme was organized at Umakanta stadium here where over 10,000 school students, sports persons, personnel of Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and BSF participated. More than 50,000 students joined yoga camps in different part of Tripura.
Mizoram Governor Lt. General (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma today inaugurated the ‘Healthy Mizoram Campaign’ and joined yoga enthusiasts at the Assam Rifles ground.
Certain misconceptions about yoga must be dispelled, Sharma said, adding that yoga does not adhere to any

particular religion, belief system or community. The governor suggested that the Mizos should embrace yoga with open mind and healthy living is an imperative in a state like Mizoram with high incidences of cancer, alcohol and drug abuse. Union Minister Rajen Gohain, who was on a two-day visit to the state, also lauded the inclusion of Yoga in the Healthy Mizoram Campaign. The campaign was launched by the Assam Rifles and would be concluded on June 21, 2018. Meanwhile, the churches, the central Committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) and the student organisations refrained from participating in the International Yoga Day. The YMA, in a press statement, said that yoga was not compatible with the social and religious practices of the Mizos and should not be propagated.
In line with the UN’s declaration of June 21 as the International Yoga Day, Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy today encouraged people in Nagaland to practice yoga in their daily lives.
Participating in the International Yoga Day at Agri Expo Site, Dimapur, Rudy said “yoga is a skill of looking good, smart and intelligent” and that regular practice of yoga enhanced fitness of mind and body.
Department of Youth Resources and Sports organized the main event at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima with 86-year old Nagaland Governor P B Acharya leading hundreds of people in performing yoga.
In his message, Acharya termed the day as a “great movement” initiated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to promote a healthy mind and body.
Defence establishments under Headquarters 3 Corps and NCC cadets of First Naga Girls Battalion also observed the day in Nagaland.
4000 girl cadets of NCC participated in the International Yoga Day celebrations at 17 venues across the state. In Manipur, the main function was held at held at Khuman Lampak Main Indoor Stadium here today in the presence of Union Minister Prakash Javadekar. “Yoga brings a balance between the mind and body and enables an individual to go along a right track,” he said.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren said, “performing yoga also improves the overall health condition of a person reducing stress and other form of ailments.” PTI