Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 2 (EMN): Nagaland health minister, S Pangyu Phom, on Thursday called on the people to practice yoga for a healthy body and healthy mind adding that yoga is not a religion but for all religions and races.
He was addressing Yogatsav – 19 days to International Day of Yoga 2022 at the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare in Kohima organised by the National Ayush Mission, in collaboration with Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of Ayush, government of India, New Delhi.
Stating that no mass demonstrations were organised in the past two years due to Covid-19 pandemic, he maintained that people in millions observed the International Yoga Day (IDY) in their own homes with their family members. Pangnyu also stated that the IDY this year would be celebrated on the theme "Yoga for humanity" and remarked that the theme was appropriate in the present context especially for the state like Nagaland.
Highlighting that June 21 was recognised as the International Day of Yoga (IDY) by the United National General Assembly in December 2014 with the initiative of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Pangnyu stated that Nagaland has been celebrating the event with the rest of 193 countries since 2015.
With 19 days remaining for the grant event, Pangnyu stated that the world is gearing up to observe the 8th International Day of Yoga on June 21. He added that the Ministry of Ayush, Ministry of Tourism, and Ministry of Indian Council for Cultural Relations is planning to come together to announce "My Yoga - My Heritage" similar to “My Life - My Yoga.”
The welcome address was delivered by the principal director of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Vikato Kinimi, while Dr. Seyiekhrietuo John, state programme officer (SPO) of National Ayush Mission, led the programme.
Senior officials from the Health department, medical officers of Ayush and other staff have actively participated in the common yoga protocol.