New Delhi, March 13 (UNI) Union Minister of Ayush Sarbanand Sonowal on Sunday inaugurated Yoga Mahotsav, an event to mark the 100 days countdown for the 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2022. “This year, the International Day of Yoga 2022 campaign will focus on the theme 100 days, 100 cities, and 100 organisations till 21st June 2022 across the globe,” the Ministry of Ayush said in a statement here on Sunday. Addressing the inaugural session, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that IDY 2022 will be the 8th edition of International Day of Yoga organised by the government and it’s an opportunity for a mass movement to promote health, well being, and peace across the globe. He said that as WHO’s Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is being established in India, it has incumbent upon India, which is equipped with the deep wisdom of yoga and traditional health practices, to lead the world on the path of peace, well-being, better and affordable health.
“Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, since 2015 it has become a mass movement and has been recognized as a biggest public initiative in the world – more than 250 million people are practicing common yoga protocol developed by Ministry of Ayush. My ministry has taken initiatives to make yoga an Indian brand for world peace and also to promote motto of Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat,” he said.
For the first time to celebrate ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’, it will demonstrate Yoga at 75 Heritage Heritage/Iconic cultural sites on 21st June, 2022. “Other program includes Yoga programs, Yoga demonstrations, workshops, seminar to be held not only in India but across the globe. Ministry will propagate benefits of using WHO mYoga App, Namastey App, Y-break App.
Various people-centric activities and programs will be launched on MyGov platform including Photo contest, quiz, discussion, pledge, poll survey, jingle etc,” It said. Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar, who was also attended the event, said that Haryana is the first state in India to establish Yoga Commission. “We are in process of establishing an Ayush University in Kurukshetra, Haryana in 100-acre area.
We have also taken initiative to make it mandatory to make available an Ayush Doctor in almost 2000 Public Health Center of Haryana,” he said. Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang, who also graced the occasion, proposed to establish National Yoga and Meditation Institute at near Kritunga Lake in Sikkim. It will be a global institution that will impart knowledge about yoga.
He added that Yoga is part of the school curriculum of Sikkim and around 500 teachers are imparting these services. In his address, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, who was also there, said that on the path of environment-friendly lifestyle, Yoga and Ayush as a whole, have a lot to contribute.
We are amending the Bio-diversity Act which will have lasting impact on the advancement of Ayush systems. He requested Ayush Minister to also organise Yoga programmes during this countdown series at prized sites like 49 select lakes and 52 tiger reserves.