BHOPAL/President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said that yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s cultural heritage to the world, playing a vital role in guiding humanity towards peace and harmony amid multiple global challenges.
Murmu led International Yoga Day (IYD) celebrations in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and performed Yoga along with Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in a mass session. The session conveyed a message of making yoga an integral part of life and adopting a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Addressing the gathering, Murmu said, “Today, we are celebrating India’s great tradition that has shown humanity the path to a healthy, balanced and meaningful life. Yoga is an invaluable gift of our cultural heritage to the global community. It is the result of thousands of years of penance by our sages and seers.”
She said scriptures regarded the balance of body, mind and soul as the basis of success in life, and yoga provided the means to establish that balance.
“The literal meaning of the word yoga is to unite. It is a powerful medium that connects individuals with themselves, society with nature and humanity with the larger universal consciousness,” she said.
The President said yoga was playing an important role in guiding humanity towards peace, balance, harmony and social welfare at a time when the world faced multiple challenges.
Yoga has emerged as a powerful medium for global welfare over the past 12 years, and crores of people across many countries have adopted it as part of their daily lives, she noted.
Referring to this year’s IYD theme focusing on healthy ageing, Murmu said yoga helps people remain active and self-reliant as they advance in age while also providing mental peace and emotional balance. She urged people to resolve to make yoga an integral part of their daily lives.
CM Yadav said yoga not only strengthens physical and mental health but also promotes global welfare, peace and harmony.
“It is a matter of good fortune for us that we are celebrating the 12th IYD alongside the completion of 12 successful years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership,” he said.
Yadav said India has always worked to unite the world through its knowledge, culture and wisdom.
“Prime Minister Modi has given yoga global recognition and introduced the international community to India’s rich cultural heritage, ancient traditions and philosophy of life.
Deputy CM Jagdish Devda and MP Yoga Commission chairman Dr Raghvendra Sharma also performed Yoga at the Jabalpur event.