From ice-capped Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world, to the warships in the contentious South China Sea, Indian armed forces today joined the International Yoga Day celebrations.
Top defence officers led by Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Navy’s Admiral R K Dhowan were present at the Rajpath doing yoga where Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a mega event to mark the day.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was in Meerut for the yoga day celebrations. But perhaps the show-stealer were the soldiers doing yoga in full gear on the Siachen Glacier at a height of 18,800 feet above sea level.
Dressed in their special weather clothing, the soldiers practised yoga while sitting on mats placed over the snow. At about 7 AM, the temperature at Siachen was -4 degree Celsius. Yoga sessions were also carried out by the Army in various units across the country including Kargil, Ladakh.
Not to be left behind, the Navy held yoga sessions across its installations and on Indian Navy ships deployed overseas in South China Sea. INS Ranvir, Satpura, Kamorta and Shakti celebrated the International Yoga Day in the South China region with the theme ‘Across the Oceans’.
The Indian Air Force too carried out yoga sessions across the country which included not just the airmen but also their families.
The UN General Assembly had in December last year adopted an India-led resolution, supported by over 175 UN member states, declaring June 21 as International Day of Yoga, recognising that “Yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-beingâ€. The day is being observed in over 251 cities in 191 countries across the world.
Meanwhile, Western Command today joined the International Yoga Day celebrations at 85 military stations. About 3 lakh participants, including officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and their families, children and civilians participated in the event, a defence spokesman said here.
GoC-in-C Western Lt General K J Singh attended the event at Meerut cantonment while at Chandimandir complex of the Western Command here, Chief of Staff, Lt General Venugopal Menon supervised the Yoga exercise undertaken by about 4500 personnel of the Indian Army including senior officers and their families.
The programme was followed by a medical camp for the health check up of all participants.
Yoga day was celebrated at local 12 Wing Air Force Station also wherein the AOC Air Commodore S K Inndoria himself and his wife Rakhi Indoria joined 600 air warriors in yoga exercises, the spokesman said.
Besides, 4041 NCC cadets from various schools of the City also took part in Yoga exercises to mark the observance of IYD, the spokesman said.
On the occasion of International Yoga Day, various formations of the Army and Air Force in Jammu and Kashmir participated in the event, a defence spokesman said.
“On the occasion of International Yoga Day, officers, junior commissioned officers, warrant officers, jawans and airmen stationed in and around Jammu performed yoga at respective locations under supervision of trained yoga instructors in the early hours,†Jammu-based defense spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.
He said that yoga capsules were conducted under the supervision of qualified army instructors and civil yoga teachers at various places of Jammu region. In Nagrota Garrison, all ranks performed yoga. Motivational lecture highlighting the importance of yoga in leading a stress-free lifestyle was also delivered while as Lt Gen KH Singh, General Officer Commanding; White Knight Corps was also present on the occasion.
In Satwari, Jammu, officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks of Tiger Division and its units performed yoga at Helipad Ground, Satwari. “Maj Gen Sanjeev Narain, General Officer Commanding, Tiger Division also participated in the event,†he said.
In Akhnoor, Sunderbani, Pallanwala, Jourian and forward post along the Line of Control, under Crossed Swords Division, the officers, troops and their families performed yoga, he said.
At Air Force Station Jammu, at 5:30 in the morning, 250 Air Force Personnel carried out yoga for two hours. The NCC Cadets of 2nd Jammu and Kashmir Battalion NCC Group also performed yoga for 35 minutes at Government Gandhi Memorial Science College, Jammu which included a prayer, yogasanas and pranayams. Nearly 3,200 NCC cadets participated in the event.
All ranks of Indian Army and Indian Air Force personnel at Jammu took great pride and participated with full vigour to mark the event a grand success.
Romeo Force Headquarters and its Rashtriya Rifles Battalions also actively participated in Yoga Day events. Yoga was organised at various locations in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch like Palma, Manjakote, Thanamandi, Topa, Basoni, Daraba, Surankote and Mendhar.
“Around 3684 Army personnel including Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Jawans participated in the event†Mehta said. Troops have been preparing for the event for the last one week and have got motivated to continue with yoga along with the other physical exercises done by them, he said.
“International Yoga Day was observed at 85 Military Stations of Western Command today. Approximate strength of three lakh participants including Officers, JCOs, OR, families, children and civilians participated in the event,†defence spokesman Lt Col Mehta said.
He said senior army officers of the Cantonment and large number of army personnel, along with their wives and children, attended the event at Chandimandir Cantonment. “Most unique aspect was ‘Yoga on Wheel Chairs’ by the 40 inmates of Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre at Mohali. All these inmates have recently qualified on the Basic Course for Art of Living. Yoga was also performed in forward areas in the snow-bound Sugar Sector at Pooh and Sumdo,†he said.
He said that more than 20,000 participants under the military formations of western command in Jammu also took part in the Yoga Day celebrations.
Lt Col Mehta said that braving unexpectedly heavy showers at the foothills of the Dhauladhar Ranges in the Yol cantonment, over 2,500 Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers, other ranks, families and children of the Rising Star Corps participated in International Yoga Day event.
“Inspired by the presence of Lieutenant General Rajeev Tewari, General Officer Commanding of the Rising Star Corps and Sonia Tewari, Regional President Rising Star Army Wives Welfare Association, the die-hard Army men with their families and young children wholeheartedly enjoyed the Yogasanas, undeterred by persistent drizzle,†he said.
While addressing all ranks and their families, the General Officer Commanding Rising Star Corps highlighted the immense value of yoga, in building a healthy mind and body.
The General Officer Commanding commended the soldiers and their families for going through the yogasanas cheerfully, despite the rains. The event was followed by a medical camp and refreshments for all ranks and their families.
The formations of the Rising Star Corps located at Mamun and Jammu, observed the International Yoga Day with full fervour and gaiety with a total of over 26000 personnel attending the event.
“The event generated considerable awareness about yoga amongst all ranks, families and children, and will undoubtedly encourage a large number of them to take up yoga regularly,†he said.
The aim of observing International Yoga Day in various military stations in Western Command was to motivate all to ensure Healthy India.
Under the Udhampur-based Northern Command of the army, more than one Lakh people participated in the event. “The participants included, the officers, JCOs, ORs, their families and other civilian staff,†a defence spokesman at the Northern Command said.
Source from India Defence News.
