GUWAHATI/JALUKBARI/JORABAT, June 21 - Along with the rest of the world, the 5th International Yoga Day was celebrated across the length and breadth of the State, including public and private institutions and by individuals from various walks of life.
Yoga enthusiasts attended the yoga sessions in large numbers and performed different asanas in unison to mark the occasion. The theme of this year�s International Yoga Day is �Yoga for Heart�.
Governor Jagdish Mukhi too celebrated the day at the Raj Bhavan. Noted personalities and members of socio-cultural organisations of the State were also present on the occasion.
Mukhi said, �Yoga is an invaluable gift of India�s ancient tradition and it embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment, harmony between man and nature, a holistic approach to health and well-being.� He said this while leading several people in performing asanas to mark the celebration of the fifth International Day of Yoga today at Raj Bhavan.
He also said, �Yoga is not only about exercise but discovering the sense of oneness within oneself.�
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal too participated in the centrally-organised yoga camp conducted under the supervision of Art of Living, Bangalore at the Sarusajai Sports Complex.
�Yoga can go long way in strengthening peace and tranquility, friendship and brotherhood in society. Yoga can also maintain equilibrium between good physical and mental health. Therefore, yoga has attained immense popularity throughout the globe,� the Chief Minister said.
Chief Minister Sonowal also said that yoga can help in supporting the young minds in imbibing a positive attitude that can radiate positive energy in society.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Education, Guwahati Development Department etc., Siddhartha Bhattacharya said yoga can play a great role in attaining a balanced physical and mental health.
VKIC programmes: Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture too made elaborate arrangements to celebrate the occasion and was instrumental in conducting yoga sessions at various places.
At NECHRI, Jorabat: The day was also observed by the North East Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Jorabat with hospital chairman Ganesh Tamuly exhorting the participants to perform yoga regularly to keep all ailments at bay.
Programmes by security forces: Troops of the Indian Army and Border Security Forces also observed International Day of Yoga in their respective areas. The Bharat Scouts and Guides is also organising a three-day yoga festival from June 20. Scouts and Guides from various parts of the region participated in the event today.
At SAI complex: International Yoga Day was also celebrated at the Sports Authority of India complex, Guwahati Regional Centre. Dr Subhash Basumatary, Director SAI was among those present at the session conducted by Anamika Barman.
At AHSEC: Employees of the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) celebrated Yoga Day with much enthusiasm. More than fifty employees of the organisation took part in the yoga camp conducted by yoga guru Nripen Deka at the AHSEC office.
Later, specialist doctors guided the employees on the management and cure of diabetes. The highlight of the event was the display of yogic skills by the septuagenarian Chairperson of AHSEC Dr Dayananda Borgohain. AHSEC Secretary Kamal Gogoi took the initiative to make the programme a success.
At GMC Auditorium: A yoga session was conducted at the Gauhati Medical College Auditorium where the Principal and the Vice Principal of GMC and the Superintendent of GMCH took part along with other faculty members, doctors, students and staff.
There were 102 participants in the yoga session which was conducted by trained volunteers from Isha Foundation.
At Excelcare Hospitals: In continuation with its month-long campaign to promote integrative healthcare, city-based Excelcare Hospitals observed International Day of Yoga by organising a mega yoga symposium at its holistic wellness unit �Svadhyaya�.
The inaugural speech was delivered by Manash Baruah, CEO, Excelcare Hospitals.
The event was attended by several distinguished citizens from different walks of life who met on the occasion and shared their ideas and experiences with yoga and how it has helped them embrace wellness.
Neelakshi Duwarah, the programme director and instructor at Svadhyaya, gave a detailed presentation on the month-long campaign that was observed by Excelcare Hospitals in the run-up to Yoga Day. She talked about the various aspects of the Iyengar School of Yoga and how the vision ahead is to promote integrative healthcare (combining conventional medicine with complementary medicine).
IIT Guwahati, Jalukbari Girls High School and Gotanagar Rongbhumi Committee were among the few entities that took active part in Excelcare�s month-long campaign.
At Gauhati University: Gauhati University (GU) celebrated the 5th International Day of Yoga today. The programme was organised by the Gauhati University NSS Cell in association with Vivekananda Kendra, Guwahati.
Around 200 students, NSS volunteers, faculty members, officers and staff of GU and affiliated colleges participated in the programme, which was inaugurated by GU Vice Chancellor Dr Mridul Hazarika, who was the chief guest.
Guest of honour Prof Prafulla Goswami, retired principal of Govt Ayurvedic College and member of VKIC, Assam, said that yoga makes life peaceful and healthy. He said yoga should be included in the course curriculum so that everyone becomes accustomed to it to make life healthy and beautiful.
Dr Ranjan Kr Kakati, Director, Students� Welfare, GU and Programme Coordinator, GU NSS Cell, highlighted the necessity of yoga in maintaining physical as well as mental health.
At Cotton University: Cotton University (CU) celebrated International Yoga Day at its Dr T Ao Indoor Stadium. The event was jointly organised in association with the Institute of Yoga and Nutrition Sciences approved by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India for promotion of global health, harmony and peace.
More than 200 people took part in the event. Each participant was awarded a certificate of participation. Vice Chancellor Prof Bhabesh Chandra Goswami and the university fraternity were among the participants. A team from the Institute of Yoga and Nutrition Sciences also participated in the programme.
At RGU: The 5th International Day of Yoga was celebrated with zeal and fervour at Royal Global University (RGU). A workshop was conducted where various yoga exercises were taught by Dr. Shalini Sharma, a life coach and advisor on diet, yoga and lifestyle and a practitioner of ayurvedic medicine at the Ayurmantra - Ayurvedic Panchakarma Wellness Centre, Guwahati.
RGU Vice Chancellor Prof SP Singh and Chairperson Academics Prof Alak Kumar Buragohain participated in the session and were enthusiastically followed by the staff and faculty members.
At Nilachal Jatiya Vidyalaya: To promote and popularise yoga among the students, Nilachal Jatiya Vidyalaya today celebrated International Day of Yoga. Some students of the school performed yoga postures. Principal Rajib Kalita also joined them.
FICCI FLO North East prog: FICCI FLO North East headed by its chairperson Dr Srutimala Duara celebrated International Day of Yoga today at Handique Girls� College. Deepika Dutta from Edu Sports and Yoga Centre from Rehabari conducted the yoga session.
FLO North East senior vice chairperson Juhie Saboo, treasurer Rashmi Manchanda, joint secretary Meghali Das and working committee members Dr Santasree Bhuyan, Latika Jhunjhunwala and Abanti Chowdhury joined in the yoga session.
At Sacred Heart Palliative Care: Sanjeevani-Life Beyond Cancer organised a yoga session with the cancer patients at Sacred Heart Palliative Care at Hasthinapur, 9th Mile. Nearly 70 cancer patients took part in the session.
The event was attended by Dr Gitartha Roymedhi as the chief guest. He said yoga is related to prevention of cancer. Yoga therapists Bikash Boruah and Dipsikha Hazarika guided the patients and others on the basic way of practising yoga in daily life to stay fit and disease-free.
The event was sponsored by Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Fancy Bazar, Guwahati; Adidas, City Centre Guwahati and Royal Gems and Jewellers, Dibrugarh.
Integra Ventures: Integra Ventures, a consulting firm in the diversified healthcare industry, in association with Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, organised an event on the occasion of International Yoga Day in the latter�s auditorium.
Pallabi Saikia, Assam Yoga Samragyee attended the event as yoga instructor.
The 5th International Day of Yoga was also observed at the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), Guwahati and its extension centres at Tezpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Silchar and Kokrajhar. Various other organizations including Ajmal Foundation also conducted yoga sessions.
