Shillong, Jun 19: The Department of Health and Family Welfare along with the National Ayush Mission, observed the 12th International Day of Yoga under the theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing.”
Major events took place simultaneously at the Khimusniang Indoor Sports Hall in Jowai and the Oak Banquet Hall in Laitkor, Shillong. Both venues highlighted the relevance of yoga in promoting mental and physical well-being across all ages.
Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla in his keynote address in Jowai emphasised the vital role yoga plays in reducing lifestyle-related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and anxiety.
Shylla urged the youth to take initiative and become ambassadors for health at the grassroots level. He encouraged students to set examples for their peers to promote public awareness about wellness. Additionally, he informed about the ongoing efforts to establish a new 50-bedded Ayush hospital and an Ayush medical college in West Jaintia Hills district.
The event, organised under the unifying call to “Come, Let Us Unite for Health, Harmony & Peace Through Yoga,” was attended by students, Ayush doctors, local leaders, and citizens.
District Nodal Officer (AYUSH), Dr. Bonnie T. Hinge stated that Yoga is purely a fitness and meditation practice aimed at reducing stress and improving breathing. He encouraged students to adopt the holistic AYUSH medical system’s “5 S” principles—Sort, set in order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain to maintain a healthy and disciplined life.
In Shillong, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal emphasised that yoga transcends mere physical movements; its true essence lies in transforming one’s life. He highlighted that through the practice of yoga, individuals can cultivate self-awareness, which is essential for personal growth and development and how it empowers young individuals to confront and navigate life’s unique challenges.
The Deputy Commissioner urged participants to take pride in yoga as a rich Indian legacy, a priceless gift to humanity.
