others participate in programme at Raj Bhavan.
SHILLONG, June 21: Exuberance and celebration overflowed in Meghalaya as a large number of people including the children and the elderly performed yoga in different programmes held across the state on Wednesday to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga.
This year’s International Day of Yoga theme is ‘Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘Yoga for the Welfare of All as One World-One Family.’
At NEHU campus, Umshing, Mawkynroh, the Health and Family Welfare department and National AYUSH Mission, Meghalaya, organised a programme to mark the occasion which was attended by Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh as the chief guest and East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah.
A mass yoga demonstration on ‘Common Yoga Protocol’ was held, in which nurses from the Nursing School of Shillong Civil Hospital and Ganesh Das Hospital along the minister and other dignitaries performed various yogasanas.
Speaking at the programme, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh underlined the government’s commitment towards propagating the practice of yoga because of its many benefits. She encouraged citizens and also urged the nurses present in the programme to practice yoga in order to cope with their stressful duties, and also suggested that there should be a dedicated room and yoga mats in every hospital of the state to enable the nurses and doctors to practice yoga in their place of work.
During the programme, the Health minister also launched the YSLife (Yoga Simplified for Daily Life) initiative, which intends to demystify and popularise yoga among the masses and is also significant in light of increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases amongst the residents of the state.
NEHU programmes
In a separate programme at the university, the Vice Chancellor of NEHU, Prof PS Shukla, led the International Yoga Day celebration which saw the participation of a total of 245 individuals including teachers, non-teaching staff and students of NEHU and its affiliate colleges.
The celebration started at 7 am with felicitation of dignitaries followed by lighting of the lamps. A formal welcome address was delivered by Chairman of University Level Yoga Committee, Prof. DK Choubey.
A formal yoga session held during the day was led by Dr Anamika Upadhaya, an AYUSH Certified Trainer and a member of the Art of Living.
Also, the National Service Scheme (NSS) Cell of NEHU celebrated the day.
A total of 325 volunteers from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim performed various yogasanas.
The celebration this year under the aegis of the NSS Cell, North-Eastern Hill University, is unique in terms of the participation of NSS volunteers from the seven states of the Northeastern Region. The celebration at NEHU coincided with the ongoing North East NSS Festival 2023.
NSS Units of colleges affiliated to NEHU observed the occasion by organizing programmes in their respective institutes.
Volunteers performed yoga in their respective homes along with their relatives.
NEIAH holds yoga session
Meanwhile, the North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy (NEIAH), Shillong, organised a yoga session on the theme ‘Yoga for Mental Well-being’ at its campus on Wednesday joining the others in celebration.
Around 500 persons participated in the event including students of institute, faculties, staff as well as the patients. The programme was live-telecast on different social media platforms in a bid to promote awareness about yoga.
NEIAH also organised a television broadcast in collaboration with Doordarshan Kendra Shillong which was telecast at 5 pm on Tuesday and re-telecast on Thursday on the programme ‘Health Essentials’. Four segments were highlighted in the telecast — Yoga for Children, Yoga for the General Public, Yoga for Women’s Health and Yoga for the Elderly.
All India Radio, Shillong Programmes, on the occasion, was delivered in English and Khasi.
On Tuesday, a ‘Run for Yoga Marathon’ was flagged off by Director of NEIAH Dr Neeta Mahesekar. The marathon began from NIFT, Shillong, and ended at NEIAH office. More than 200 participants in different categories participated in the marathon.
A ‘Walk for Yoga Walkathon’ was also organised by the institute earlier. The walkathon was set in two different groups of 100 participants in each group. The route of Group 1 was from the State Central Library, IGP, to Police Bazar to State Central Library, IGP. Group 2 had to traverse from Polo to Demseniong to Nongmensong.
It also organised a yoga camp at St Anthony’s College, Shillong, on June 17.
NCC cadets show enthusiasm
As many as 300 NCC cadets from various colleges and institutions in and around Shillong under NCC Headquarters Shillong exuded enthusiasm as they celebrated the International Day of Yoga at Garrison Ground, Shillong, effectively encapsulating the collective aspiration for ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future’ in keeping with the theme ‘Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
The programme was also attended by Brig. Vijayant Mahadik, Group Commander, the officers and ANOs of NCC Shillong Group.
Moreover, 61 Meghalaya Girls Bn NCC, Shillong, under the command of Officiating Commanding Officer, Maj Alodia G Warjri, held a programme on the occasion.
Celebration at different BSF HQs, outposts
The BSF on Wednesday organised the International Day of Yoga celebrations at its various headquarters and border outposts along the Indo-Bangla border.
BSF Meghalaya IG Pradip Kumar inaugurated the yoga session at BSF camp Umpling, which saw enthusiastic participation of all ranks.
Family members of BSF personnel also performed yoga at their residences. Prior to the international Day of Yoga, BSF Meghalaya also took the initiative of spreading awareness on benefits of yoga in nearby civil areas by carrying out rally, displaying banners etc.
Over 1,300 students of KV Happy Valley participate in celebration
More than 1,300 students of Kendriya Vidyalaya Happy Valley participated in the celebration, which was held by the school along with the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), Shillong, at the school premises with demonstration of Common Yoga Protocol.
Exhorting the students to take up yoga in daily life regularly, Principal of KV Happy Valley, K Ramesh, said that yoga helps in connecting the body with mind and sharpens the intellectual abilities. He appreciated the initiative of CBC Shillong for associating with KV Happy Valley in organising the programme.
Students of all classes of the school enthusiastically participated in the Common Yoga Protocol practice that was demonstrated by Yoga Trainer Kamin Mibang. Inter-house Quiz, drawing and painting, and debate competitions were organised among the students of the school as part of the celebrations. The competitions were supervised by Physical Education Teacher Kuldeep Singh. Prizes were distributed among the winners of the competition from the office of Central Bureau of Communication.
Nongstoin joins the rest
CBC’s Field Office in Nongstoin also celebrated the day at St Francis D’Assisi College in a bid to remind the masses about the benefits of practising yoga in daily life.
Ribasuk Jana, a resident of Riangdo, West Khasi Hills, who is a fitness trainer and a dancer, was the resource person on the occasion. She spoke about the importance of yoga and also led the students in performing yogasanas. Students, teachers, guests and invitees actively participated in the activity.
Prizes were also distributed to the winners of poetry writing competition on ‘Benefits of Yoga in Daily Life’.
Art of Living yoga sessions
The Shillong Chapter of the Art of Living, a global nonprofit organization, conducted a series of transformative yoga sessions across the state led by dedicated teachers and passionate volunteers. The sessions aimed to promote holistic well-being and foster a deeper understanding of the ancient practice of yoga.
The yoga sessions were organised various locations throughout Meghalaya including NEEPCO, All India Radio, Shillong Airport, ICAR Research Complex Umroi, Assam Rifles (HQ) Laitkor, India Tourism (Incredible India) at Arabindo Ashram, Lumparing Community Hall, Shillong Cantonment Board, National Academy of Customs Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN) Shillong, SOS Children’s Village Umroi, and Bharat Petroleum Pvt Ltd Shillong.
Numerous events were conducted in various educational institutes in Meghalaya such as National Institute of Technology (NIT) Shillong, Army Public School Shillong, NEIAH Shillong, NEHU Shillong, Women’s College Shillong, Sarojini Naidu Girl’s Secondary School Rynjah, Jail Road Boys’ Higher Secondary School, and Morning Star College Nongthymmai.
Students and staff participation was tremendous in all locations.
More than 900 students took part in the yoga session at the Army Public School. Similarly, in all the other institutes, participants joined the session with vigour and excitement.
Yoga events were also conducted by the Art of Living teachers at Seintyllilang Auditorium Hall Shangpung Pohshnong, Chnong Panaliar Jowai, Community Hall, in West Jaintia Hills, Sri Sri Gyan Mandir Garo Hills and Dalu Village.
Experienced teachers of Art of Living facilitated yoga sessions, guiding participants through a variety of asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), and meditation practices. These ancient techniques were taught in a modern context, enabling participants to relax their minds, rejuvenate their bodies, and discover their inner potential.
Underprivileged children perform yoga
More than 250 underprivileged children of social organisation SPARK were energetic and zealous as they celebrated the occasion of International Day of Yoga at all its educational centres.
Founder and president of SPARK, Shima Modak introduced the children to the concept of yoga and explained to them its all-round benefits. She urged the children as well as the parents and communityto include yoga in their daily lives.
According to her, a 10-minute yoga session has become a part of the daily curriculum of the children since the last few years.
IBSD staff celebrate day
All the scientific staff, researchers and technical and non-technical staff of the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (DBT-IBSD), Node Shillong, performed yoga at its campus in 6th Mile, Upper Shillong.
Every year since the inception of the International Day of Yoga, the institute has been celebrating the occasion with full participation of the entire staff. The initiative was taken with the guidance of Director, IBSD, Prof Pulok Kumar Mukherjee.