Every year, on June 21, International Day of Yoga is celebrated across the globe. This year, the 8th edition of the International Day of Yoga was celebrated on the theme of “Yoga for Humanity”. The event was inaugurated by lighting of the lamp by Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Hon’ble Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Government of India in the presence of eminent dignitaries and a large no. of participants and Yoga enthusiasts. Shri Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri (Dr.) Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Shri Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lt. Governor, J&K, Shri (Dr.) Bijaya Kumar Behera, Economic Adviser, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Smt. Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner/Secretary, Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Government of J&K and other senior officers of the Central Government and Government of Jammu and Kashmir graced the occasion with their august presence.

Smt. Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner/Secretary, Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Government of Jammu & Kashmir delivered welcome address on this occasion. The congregation of participants and Yoga enthusiasts gathered from different parts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was addressed by the dignitaries. Shri Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary of Government of Jammu and Kashmir underlined the importance of Yoga in daily life and requested everyone to make yoga an integral part of daily routine.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj extended his warm greetings to all the participants on the occasion of the eighth International Day of Yoga and appealed everyone to adopt Yoga and practice Yoga exercise on regular basis for mental, emotional and physical health and well-being. Shri Kapil Moreshwar patil, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj expressed pleasure that a large number of local yoga enthusiasts assembled despite light rains at the SKICC situated on the bank of world famous and scenic Dal Lake in the historical city of Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley-famously Known as the heaven on the earth.

While addressing the participants, Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir spoke in detail about importance of Yoga on our daily lives and called upon everyone to practice Yoga to maintain balance in every sphere of their personal and professional lives. Hon’ble Lt. Governor suggested the participants those working in different offices to take Yoga Break during the day time to relax and rejuvenate themselves in order to enhance productivity at work. Hon’ble Lt. Governor referred to the increased level of global acceptance during the collective fight against COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. Hon’ble Lt. Governor also appreciated the efforts and initiatives of the government of India under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to make the International Day of Yoga a mass movement. Hon’ble Lt. Governor thanked the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for organizing the event to commemorate the eighth International Day of Yoga at SKICC, Dal Lake, Srinagar – one of the 75 iconic locations identified by the Government of India. The efforts and contribution made by the local District Administration, District Police, CRPF and other Para-Military Forces, Volunteers for successful organizing of the IDY-2022 event at Srinagar were also lauded by the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Jammu & Kashmir.

During the celebrations of International Day of Yoga, adequate arrangements were made for seamless live streaming and screening of the Hon’ble prime Minister’s address from Mysuru Palace Grounds, Mysuru, Karnataka. All the dignitaries and participants listened to the address by Hon’ble Prime Minister on this occasion.

The Ministry of AYUSH coordinated the event through Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine of CCRUM as nodal agency for the event.

An approximate number of 1200 participants from various organizations attended the IDY-2022 celebrations at SKICC, Srinagar, on the picturesque Dal Lake. RRIUM, Srinagar, participated in the event with staff and M.D. Scholars and performed Yoga as per common Yoga protocol at the venue. All the participants joined the 45- minutes Yoga session to mark the IDY-2022