New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday performed Yoga with the personnel of the Armed Forces and the Indian Coast Guard onboard India’s indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on the occasion of 9th International Day of Yoga.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Controller of Personnel Services Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command Rear Admiral J Singh were also present along with over 800 personnel, including 120 Agniveers.
The deck of INS Vikrant provided an awe-inspiring setting to celebrate the ancient Indian practice which is cementing its importance across the globe due to the multiple benefits it offers towards physical, mental & spiritual well-being. Expert yoga instructors guided the participants in performing various asanas (poses) and breathing exercises with the aim to promote physical fitness, mental calmness and spiritual healing.
Singh said it was a matter of pride for India that yoga was being celebrated globally as it shows the world is acknowledging the country's rich culture and also adopting it. Singh was speaking to the media after joining hundreds of Navy personnel on board INS Vikrant, India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier here, to participate in the yoga celebrations on the occasion of International Day of Yoga.
"It is a matter of pride for India that the International Day of Yoga is being celebrated all over the world today and shows that our rich culture and heritage is being acknowledged and adopted globally," he said. Singh said that while yoga was acknowledged by the United Nations nine years ago only, it was being followed and practised in various parts of the world, including India, for centuries.
He also said that of late lot of people suffer from various physiological and psychological problems due to the hectic pace of life nowadays and the only effective solution for these issues is yoga. Early in the morning, the Defence Minister joined the naval personnel in their performance and led the celebrations on board the sprawling aircraft carrier.
Cutting across their ranks, the defence personnel positioned themselves in various rows and performed different asanas according to the instructions for nearly an hour. 'Agniveers' also performed yoga in unison, embracing the spirit of unity and well-being. The UN General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day following a resolution moved by India and co-sponsored by a large number of nations. The first International Yoga Day was observed on June 21, 2015.
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