Rajasthan celebrates International Yoga Day

JAIPUR: Lakhs of people in Rajasthan today performed yoga for one hour to mark the first International Yoga Day with the state's main event being attended by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her cabinet colleagues at Sawai Man Singh Stadium here.

Raje participated in the morning yoga session at the stadium.

One hour yoga practice was guided by chief instructor Kulbhushan Bairathi of Patanjali Yogpeeth from 6:40 am to 7:40 am.

The Chief Minister also administered the oath of health, fitness and discipline in life to over 25,000 people cutting across all religions after the yoga session.

Raje's cabinet colleagues Kiran Maheshwari, K C Saraf, Rajendra Rathore, Jaipur MP Ram Charan Bohara and state BJP President Ashok Parnami were among others present on the occasion.

Yoga Day celebration was observed in North Western Railway's headquarters, Rajasthan Police and Jail HQs, Public Sector nationalised banks, BJP office and its frontal organisation.

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee did not observe the Yoga Day at any of its district offices.

"Congress is not against Yoga. Yoga was also politicised by Narendra Modi government and the spirit of Father's Day was lowered down," Congress spokesperson Archna Sharma said.

"Lots of government money and resources were used by the BJP governments for just one hour of exercise which was ancient and used to be practised by people in the country on their own...what's new in it except for BJP propaganda," she said.

Besides cities, yoga was also performed in 9,900 gram panchayats in which all elected representatives, NGOs and government employees took part, Medical and Health Minister R S Rathore said.

About 1.5 lakh books on yogic postures and its health benefits were distributed in the entire state for this purpose, he said.

Rathore said the state government is considering to frame a separate policy on yoga and set up some institutes for regular exercise in Rajasthan.