Jharkhand celebrates International Yoga Day

RANCHI: Jharkhand today celebrated International Yoga Day with Chief Minister Raghubar Das, his cabinet colleagues and bureaucrats joining the common people at different places across the state to mark the day.

Das performed Yoga along with around 10,000 people, including ministers, political leaders and bureaucrats at the Morahbadi ground here from around 7 AM to 8 AM.

Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba and several other bureaucrats were present at the ground where instructors from Art of Living, Yogada Satsanga Ashram and Patanjali Yog Pith guided them to do 21 yoga and breathing exercises, said a government official.

The districts too celebrated the day with enthusiasm. Former chief minister Arjun Munda joined a congregation at Dhanbad.

The Jharkhand Chapter of the Brahmakumaris also marked the day with enthusiasm at Harmu road.

The Chief Minister had yesterday urged the people to make yoga a party of their daily life.

More than 1500 army personnel including senior officials participated in a yoga programme at Dhyanchand stadium.

"Yoga is a part of regular fitness practice of Army personnel. It helps to gain control over our consciousness, in dealing with stress and enhances the ability to withstand problems," Brigadier GPS Sosodia, Commandant of the Punjab Regimental Centre, Ramgarh, said.

Colonel Arnendra Sharma, officiating Commandant of Sikh Regimental Centre, Ramgarh, said Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition which embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment and harmony between man and nature, a holistic approach to health and well being.