NEW DELHI: From high-altitude mountains to parade grounds in the plains to the high seas, a large number of armed forces personnel took part in yoga sessions across the country and in Indian waters to mark the 12th International Day of Yoga on Sunday. All military commands of the three services — the Army, Navy and the Air Force — have been preparing for this annual mega event. This year’s Yoga Day’s theme is ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, which emphasises the importance of yoga for all ages. In Shillong, defence minister Rajnath Singh led the defence forces in celebrating the 12th International Day of Yoga by performing various asanas and breathing exercises with around 1,000 soldiers of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army at the Eastern Air Command Headquarters on Sunday.Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma, IAF chief ACM AP Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia, and General Officer Commanding of Headquarters 101 Area Lt General Mohit Wadhwa also performed yoga.Rajnath described yoga as a holistic science and an art of living that connects individuals with their inner selves, society, nature, and ultimately, the divine. He added that yoga offers a path to inner stability, mental clarity, and emotional resilience. In a post on X, the defence minister said, “Yoga is not merely the foundation of a healthy body, but a path to living a balanced and disciplined life. Through the continuous efforts and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this cultural heritage of India has today become a global people’s movement.”
Rajnath performs yoga with 1,000 soldiers in Shillong
He emphasised that yoga symbolises the power of India’s ancient traditions, which is ensuring the well-being of all humanity. He appealed to the people to make Yoga an integral part of their daily lives to build a healthy body, calm mind, and a strong nation. From Shillong, all the participants witnessed the PM’s Yoga Day speech delivered from the historic Red Road in Kolkata.Yoga sessions were also conducted at numerous forward locations, reflecting the dedication and enthusiasm of the defence forces personnel. MoS defence Sanjay Seth celebrated Yoga Day at Swarn Jyanti Dikshant Mandap, Ranchi University at an event organised by the Ministry of AYUSH. He, too, underlined the need to incorporate yoga in day-to-day lives as it teaches to remain calm in favourable or adverse circumstances.“The yoga session at the Cariappa Parade Ground (Delhi Cantt) began at around 6 am. About 3,500 people gathered at the venue for the event, including Army personnel and their families, several defence attaches, NCC cadets, and school children,” a senior Army officer said.The IAF has also organised a host of events spanning its multiple commands, from the Western Air Command in Delhi to the Southern Air Command in Thiruvananthapuram. The Indian Navy also joined in the celebrations. “Calm Mind. Strong Body. Mission Ready. At sea and ashore, #IndianNavy embraces yoga as a way of life – enhancing focus, endurance and overall well-being,” the Navy had posted on X ahead of Yoga Day.
