National Mission for Clean Ganga organises 'Ghat Par Yoga' along Yamuna on Yoga Day
Jun 21, 2024
New Delhi [India], June 21 : The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) on Friday organized a special session 'Ghat Par Yoga' along the banks of Yamuna to celebrate the 10th International Day of Yoga in the national capital.
This year's theme for the International Day of Yoga is 'Yoga for Self and Society', highlighting the significance of yoga not only for personal well-being but also for fostering harmony and betterment in society.
The event saw participation of NMCG officials, staff, NGOs under YAP-III of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). Personnel of Border Security Force (BSF), members of Ganga Vichar Manch, various other NGOs, as well as students and children also participated.
Director General of NMCG Rajeev Kumar Mittal, Deputy Director General Nalin Kumar Srivastava, and other senior officials participated in the event.
Addressing the gathering, DG Rajeev Kumar Mittal said they have assembled to celebrate the 10th edition of International Yoga Day.
"Traditionally, yoga and rivers have a deep connection. Yoga, as imparted by gurus to their students, has historically been associated with ashrams situated near ghats. Therefore, rivers, ghats, and yoga share a profound connection."
The NMCG Director General said they aim to encourage everyone to visit riversides and keep them clean. He added that the society organizes yoga events only in New Delhi but also in other states.
"Through initiatives like these, we aim to encourage everyone to visit riversides, utilize them responsibly, and keep them clean. Yoga embodies this philosophy. We organize yoga activities not only in New Delhi but also across India in states like Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand to encourage wide participation," he said.
"Yoga integrates the mind and body at an individual level and connects individuals with nature and society at another," he added.
Rajeev Kumar Mittal highlighted that the International Day of Yoga, aligned with the Prime Minister's vision, is celebrated globally to honour this facet of Indian cultural heritage.
He underscored that yoga, as a unique Indian spiritual science, promotes both mental and physical well-being. Its diverse forms resonate across civilizations, imparting it a distinctive identity and establishing it as a unique practice.
This year's yoga session was led by Yogini Meenakshi, a yoga instructor.
"This marks the 10th edition of the International Day of Yoga, and we are gathered here to celebrate this occasion. The theme 'Yoga for Self and Society' emphasises that practising yoga can profoundly transform our lives. Its benefits extend beyond the individual to encompass families and society as a whole," she said.
As part of the Namami Gange Programme, yoga sessions were conducted at 139 sites across the Ganga Basin by District Ganga Committees in collaboration with the State Mission for Clean Ganga (SMCG), yoga instructors, Ganga Praharis, Ganga Vichar Manch, Ganga Task Force, and students, the release added.
These sessions were held on the banks of the River Ganga and its tributaries.
