Large-scale ‘International Yoga Day’ celebrations took place across Gujarat, with various participants highlighting the importance of integrating yoga into daily life beyond just an annual event. In Porbandar, the 12th International Yoga Day was commemorated by the seafront, where attendees engaged in a collective yoga session against the scenic backdrop of the Arabian Sea.
State Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia, along with citizens and officials, participated in the yoga session, underscoring India’s global outreach in promoting yoga, thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives. Modhwadia praised the UN’s recognition of June 21 as ‘International Yoga Day,’ considering it a significant achievement for the nation.
Describing yoga as a vital aspect of India’s cultural legacy that fosters overall well-being, Modhwadia urged the public to integrate yoga into their daily routines rather than confining it to a single celebratory day. The event in Porbandar also featured live broadcasts of programs attended by the Prime Minister and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
In Gandhinagar, a special yoga event themed “Yoga for Healthy Ageing” was organized at Central Vista Garden by the Gujarat State Yoga Board and the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation. Minister of State for Finance, Kamlesh Patel, stressed the preventive healthcare benefits of yoga, noting its evolution into a global lifestyle movement since the UN’s endorsement of an International Yoga Day in 2014.
Highlighting the significance of regular yoga practice in maintaining long-term physical and mental health, Patel likened yoga to a daily premium that wards off illnesses, contrasting it with health insurance that covers medical expenses post-illness. He encouraged individuals, especially women managing household duties, to incorporate simple yoga routines into their daily schedules whenever feasible, drawing parallels between yoga and the recharging of smartphones.
