From Raj Bhavan to Remote Valleys, Arunachal Pradesh Celebrates Yoga Day

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh joined the nation in celebrating International Yoga Day on Saturday with a series of events across the state, led by Governor Lt Gen (Retd) K T Parnaik and Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who underscored the importance of yoga for physical and mental well-being.           

Governor Parnaik participated in the yoga session at Raj Bhavan here.

Emphasising the day’s theme ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’, he said yoga has evolved into a global movement that transcends cultural, religious, and national boundaries.

“It has shown us how inner peace can foster outer peace, and how a calm mind leads to a healthier life,” Parnaik said, calling yoga a timeless gift from India’s ancient wisdom that promotes harmony of body, mind, and spirit.          

He expressed hope that the day would inspire people to embrace yoga as a daily practice, fostering inner harmony and a deeper sense of responsibility towards nature.

“Let us make yoga a part of our daily lives for a healthier present and a brighter, more balanced future,” the governor said.

Parnaik extended warm wishes to the people of the state and expressed hope that the day would inspire more and more individuals to incorporate yoga into their lives. He conveyed heartfelt gratitude to yoga teachers, practitioners, and wellness champions whose dedication continues to keep this ancient tradition vibrant and relevant.

Recalling the global recognition yoga received under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the governor noted that the declaration of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations in 2014, transformed India’s timeless tradition into a worldwide movement for peace, wellness, and unity.

“What began as a sacred practice on the banks of our rivers is now a bridge connecting hearts across continents”, he remarked.

Parnaik emphasised the profound link between personal well-being and the health of the planet.

He said that yoga, rooted in the values of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), promotes compassion, mindfulness, and ecological responsibility, encouraging a balanced and sustainable way of living.

Appealing to the youth, the governor said that in today’s fast-paced and digitally driven world, yoga offers much-needed clarity and calm.

“More than just physical fitness, yoga nurtures emotional strength, mental focus, and self-awareness. By embracing it, young people can lead healthier, more conscious lives and become torchbearers of peace and wellness in their communities,” he said.

Let us not just do yoga today, but live it every day. Only then can we build a world where inner peace fosters outer harmony and mindful living becomes a shared movement, Parnaik said. As part of his ongoing efforts to promote holistic wellness, the governor also distributed a yoga booklet titled “Yoga for Common Health Challenges”, brought out by him, to the participants.

Khandu, along with union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, , participated in an event at Chuna village, one of India’s remotest border settlements in Tawang district, close to the Tibet frontier.

The event saw participation from Bollywood singer Mohit Chauhan, commanders of the Indian Army’s 40 and 46 Brigades, ITBP personnel, schoolchildren, and officers from the district administration.

Held at an altitude of 3,950 meters, the celebration highlighted yoga as a path to inner peace and national unity.

“This International Yoga Day, we gathered at Chuna in Tawang district to celebrate the ancient wisdom of yoga, a gift from Bharat to the world,” Khandu wrote in a post on X. Reflecting on the occasion, the chief minister said, “In the serene heights of 3,950 meters, in the company of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Hon’ble Minister Kento Jini, Bollywood singer Mohit Chauhan, and our brave Army and ITBP personnel, we practiced yoga not just as a physical exercise, but as a way of life rooted in harmony, balance, and inner peace.”

Following the yoga session, Khandu interacted with villagers of Chuna, emphasising his commitment as their local MLA to understand their challenges and aspirations firsthand.

Also Read: Yoga gives world the direction of peace: PM Narendra Modi

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