The 8th International Day of Yoga 2022 was observed by various institutions in Meghalaya today with the theme “Yoga for Humanity”.
The University Yoga Committee and National Service Scheme (NSS) Cell, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) observed the day from 6am onwards. NEHU has been one of the chosen 75 sites across India for celebration of International Yoga Day.
The programme was attended by a large number of teachers, non-teaching staff and students from different departments of the university along with NSS volunteers of NSS Unit, NEHU with full enthusiasm.
NEHU vice chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla graced the occasion as chief guest and during his address, he said that as part of the golden jubilee celebration of NEHU, the university shall try to organise another Yoga programme with a target of having thousands number of participants from NEHU and the local youths of the nearby localities.
Prof. Shukla spelt out a plan for community outreach in terms of creativity and service to local people of Mawlai and other nearby areas, as per mandate of the UGC.
He further enthralled the audience by saying that in his last 11 months of tenure, he had to clean so much of muck and he connected it to the transformative dimension of Yoga that elevates the human spirit and the human self. Also, Prof. Shukla called upon the NEHU community to undertake their responsibilities and duties towards the society as a form of yoga, which, according to him, is the practical aspect of yoga and the spirituality attached to it.
Dr. Marbhador M. Khymdeit, NSS Programme Coordinator, NEHU, a co-organiser of the programme also deployed the National Service Scheme (NSS) units active in various colleges of Meghalaya to perform Yoga.
Overall, across Meghalaya, some 3,600 youths from among NSS volunteers took part in practising yoga and in celebrating the deeper message of International Yoga Day. Dr. Khymdeit further commended all the NSS Units of different colleges for making the Yoga Day celebration a massive success.’
The Ministry of Minority Affairs and Ministry of AYUSH in collaboration with the Meghalaya government today observed the International Day of Yoga at the Convocation Hall, NEHU here.
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla graced the occasion as chief guest and Meghalaya Health Minister James Sangma as guest of honour.
Addressing the gathering, Barla said that this year’s celebration holds significance as the country is also celebrating its 75th year of Independence (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav). Stating that the practice of Yoga should not be confined just for today’s celebration, he urged the gathering to make Yoga a part and parcel of their daily routine and to spread the message to each and every household in order to achieve the goal of a fit and healthy India.
Sangma in his speech said that it is a matter of pride being an Indian as the practice of Yoga originated in India. “In today’s world where people tend to ignore their mental and physical health, Yoga holds prominence in addressing the various health issues that plague our society,” he said.
As part of the programme the common yoga exercise was led by a team of North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy (NEIAH), Shillong. The exercise saw the participation of about 800 individuals comprising students of NEIAH, Shillong Polytechnic and defence personnel among others.
The International Yoga Day was also observed with full zeal and enthusiasm at the North Eastern Council (NEC) Secretariat, Shillong, under the guidance of Adviser (T&C) Naveen Kumar.
The International Day of Yoga was also celebrated at the headquarter of the Chief Engineer, Military Engineering Services, Shillong Zone in collaboration with Art of Living, Meghalaya. MES Chief Engineer Sanjay Ekbote, officers, junior commission officers and other staff and their family members participated in the event.
On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, the underprivileged children of SPARK also observed the day with activeness and enthusiasm following this year’s theme “Yoga for Humanity”.
The day was observed in all the educational centres of SPARK, with more than 250 children benefiting from it.
Other events to mark the day were held at the College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Umiam, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan in association Metallica-Sargam Sports & Cultural Club, Shillong, and supported by Patanjali Yog Parivar and Meghalaya Yog Samiti in Polo, and the NSS unit of Sankardev College, where the resource person was Alpana Chakraborty, a retired assistant professor from St Anthony’s College.
