Church organisations in Nagaland object to a school directive on International Day of Yoga.
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DIMAPUR — Church organisations in Nagaland have strongly objected to a circular issued by the Directorate of School Education directing all government and private schools to observe the 12th International Day of Yoga on June 21, which falls on a Sunday.
The organisations pointed out that Sunday is a sacred day of worship for the Christian-majority state. They also noted that the date coincides with Father's Day this year.
The circular directed all district education officers, senior sub-divisional education officers, and sub-divisional education officers to ensure widespread awareness and maximum participation of students and staff in yoga sessions across their jurisdictions. Schools were also required to submit Action Taken Reports along with GPS-tagged photographs on the same day.
Nagaland Baptist Pastors' Union: The Nagaland Baptist Pastors' Union (NBPU) expressed deep concern and strong objection to the circular.
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While acknowledging the importance of physical health and wellness, the NBPU affirmed in a press release that Yoga is not merely a system of physical exercise but is historically and philosophically rooted in religious and spiritual traditions that are incompatible with core Christian beliefs and practices.
Accordingly, the NBPU called upon all Baptist churches, pastors, church leaders, Christian educational institutions, parents, youth, and believers across Nagaland to refrain from participating in the observance.
It clarified that this position is not directed against any religion or community but is to safeguard the integrity of the Christian faith. The NBPU urged the government to respect the freedom of conscience and religion guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
Dimapur Baptist Pastors' Fellowship: The Dimapur Baptist Pastors' Fellowship (DBPF) also expressed concern over the directive.
The fellowship recognised the importance of physical fitness and healthy living but pointed out that Yoga originated as a spiritual discipline within the Hindu philosophical tradition and continues to be understood as having religious and spiritual significance.
It appealed to the Government of Nagaland to ensure that participation in International Day of Yoga programmes remains entirely voluntary and that no Christian student, teacher, or employee is subjected to pressure, discrimination, or adverse consequences.