Posing for pictures in the midst of scarf-wearing students, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday positioned yoga for global Muslims from the country’s Muslim-majority Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir. It comes as a rare bid to shed linking of yoga meditation to a particular faith.
Addressing the 10th International Day of Yoga (IYD) event in Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), with the Dal Lake in its backdrop, the PM said those who practice yoga could use any incantations “whether it’s Allah, Ishwar or Waheguru”.
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Religion-neutral view
The PM made an elaborate statement on how Muslims globally were adopting yoga and cited the adoption of yoga therapy in Turkmenistan medical universities, inclusion in Saudi Arabia’s education system and yoga-specific schools in Mongolia to bring home his point. He also highlighted the use of yoga photography in Egypt as a means to promote tourism of the country. It was a rare bid on part of Mr. Modi to position yoga for Muslims and appropriate it as a religion-neutral meditation technique.
“Yoga’s utility is being recognised globally. There is barely any world leader who has not discussed yoga during his interactions. Yoga has become a part of daily life in every corner of the world. Yoga has become a topic of research today and multiple research papers have already been published,” the PM said.
He suggested that yoga and tourism could “become a major source of employment in J&K too”. “Yoga is not only a discipline but also a science,” he added.
The PM said 100 institutes in India and 10 major foreign institutes have been recognised by the Yoga Certification Board instituted by the Ministry of AYUSH.
“A new yoga economy is taking birth. There is a growing attraction for yoga tourism and people’s desire to visit India to learn authentic yoga. Yoga retreats, resorts, dedicated facilities for yoga at airports and hotels, yoga apparel and equipment, personal yoga trainers, etc., were creating new avenues of employment for the youth,” Mr. Modi said, adding: “Yoga is scripting new pathways of positive change in the society.”
From tourist spots to LoC
An official estimate suggested that 50,000 to 60,000 locals of Jammu and Kashmir participated in yoga programmes across the UT on Friday. Scores of yoga sessions were held in several districts, along the Line of Control and at the tourist spots of Kashmir Valley on the occasion.
The PM praised the spirit of the people to come out and show their support despite the rainy weather.
Earlier in the day, the venue in Srinagar was changed from the lawns of the SKICC to the auditorium inside due to rains. However, the PM was seen clicking selfies and posing for pictures with scarf-wearing students enthusiastically encircling him. Scores of participants stood their ground at the SKICC and placed the yoga mats as umbrellas to attend the function.
“Today’s spectacle of enthusiasm and commitment shown by the people of J&K towards yoga will be immortalised,” Mr. Modi said.
Speaking to the students, PM Modi shed light on yoga techniques. “Concentration and focus in yoga can be cultivated with practice and techniques. This state of mind gives great results with least tiredness and helps to avoid distractions. Apart from the spiritual journey, which will eventually come, meditation is a tool for self-improvement and training,” he added.
Yoga is at its nascent stage in the Kashmir Valley and the government is making extra efforts to popularise it among students and government employees over the past five years. “The atmosphere, energy and experience from yoga can be felt in J&K today,” the Prime Minister said, as he had a leisurely conversation and photo sessions with young boys and girls at the SKICC and the Dal Lake.
Published - June 21, 2024 10:26 am IST
