Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday participated in the “Run for Yoga” event organised at the Police Lines in Dehradun as part of activities leading up to the 12th International Day of Yoga.
Addressing participants, Dhami said the event was more than a run and represented a broader campaign to promote healthy living, positive thinking and the practice of yoga among the public. He described the initiative as an important step towards raising awareness about yoga and fostering a healthier society.
The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand, often referred to as Devbhoomi, has long been a centre of yoga, spirituality and meditation. He noted that the state’s spiritual heritage and natural environment continue to inspire people with messages of health, balance and positive living.
Highlighting the significance of yoga, Dhami said it is an ancient Indian tradition as well as a scientific and practical discipline that helps establish harmony between the body, mind and soul.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts for enhancing yoga’s global recognition. Referring to Modi’s proposal at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, Dhami said June 21 was subsequently declared the International Day of Yoga and is now observed by millions of people in more than 190 countries.
The Chief Minister said yoga has emerged as an effective tool for addressing modern-day challenges such as stress, depression and lifestyle-related health issues. He urged young people to incorporate yoga and regular exercise into their daily routines, stating that healthy, energetic and disciplined youth are essential for the state’s and nation’s future.
Dhami also said the state government is working to establish Uttarakhand as a global hub for yoga, Ayurveda, wellness and naturopathy. Under the state’s new Yoga Policy, initiatives are being undertaken to promote yoga and meditation centres, support yoga instructors and create employment opportunities in the wellness sector.
He appealed to citizens to adopt yoga as a daily practice, embrace a healthy and disciplined lifestyle, contribute towards a drug-free society and help spread awareness about yoga across all sections of society. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Uttarakhand’s youth would play a key role in transforming yoga into a mass movement and contribute to building a healthy, prosperous and empowered state.
International Day of Yoga is observed annually on June 21 following the adoption of a United Nations General Assembly resolution on December 11, 2014. The proposal was first put forward by Prime Minister Modi during his address to the 69th session of the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014.
Since the first International Day of Yoga was celebrated in 2015, India has led global observance efforts through the Ministry of AYUSH, with support from state governments, Indian missions abroad and various international organisations.
Ahead of this year’s celebrations, Indian missions across the world have been conducting outreach programmes involving the Indian diaspora and local communities to promote awareness about yoga and its benefits.
(With ANI inputs)
