'Precious gift of India's ancient cultural heritage': Prez Murmu participates in Jabalpur Yoga event
Jabalpur, June 21
On the occasion of the 12th International Yoga Day, President Droupadi Murmu participated in a grand yoga event at Garrison Ground in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday, inspiring citizens to embrace yoga for a healthier life.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav joined her, while Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai participated in a parallel programme in Ambikapur.
The celebrations aligned with this year's theme, 'Yoga for Healthy Elderly', highlighting yoga's vital role in promoting wellness across all age groups, especially senior citizens.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu extended warm greetings to yoga enthusiasts across India and the world.
"I am delighted to be present on the holy land of Jabalpur," she said. "I wish all yoga seekers at home and abroad a very happy International Yoga Day. Yoga has shown humanity the path to a healthy, balanced, and meaningful life."
The President described yoga as a "precious gift" of India's ancient cultural heritage to the global community. Rooted in thousands of years of tradition, yoga, she noted, establishes harmony between body, mind, and soul -- a principle deeply embedded in Indian scriptures.
"Yoga literally means joining society with nature itself. It serves as a powerful means of connecting the entire humanity to global consciousness," she emphasised.
President Murmu further observed that in today's world, facing numerous challenges, yoga guides humanity towards peace, balance, harmony, and collective welfare.
Since the United Nations declared June 21 as International Yoga Day, its practice has gained tremendous momentum worldwide, becoming an integral part of daily routines for millions seeking physical and mental well-being.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav echoed these sentiments, calling yoga a "priceless heritage" of ancient Indian culture.
He highlighted the Ashtanga Yoga system propounded by Maharishi Patanjali, which goes beyond physical fitness to foster holistic development of body, mind, and soul.
"By regularly practising yoga, we can achieve a healthy body, a calm mind, and a happy, balanced, and joyful life," CM Yadav said.
Hundreds of participants, including citizens of all ages, performed yoga asanas together, creating an atmosphere of unity and wellness. The focus on healthy ageing this year underscores yoga's accessibility and relevance for senior citizens, helping them maintain mobility, mental clarity, and emotional balance. S
— IANS
Reader Comments
Respect to President Murmu for highlighting yoga as a 'precious gift' of Indian culture. But we need to be honest—many senior citizens in rural areas still lack access to proper yoga instructors or even basic healthcare. The government should invest in training local volunteers to take yoga to every village panchayat, not just organise grand events in cities like Jabalpur.
Living in the US, I've watched International Yoga Day grow here too—my local park in Chicago now has 200+ people doing sun salutations every June 21. India should be proud of sharing this tradition globally. The President's message about connecting humanity to global consciousness really resonates.
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai participating in Ambikapur is nice, but let's not pretend—this is all political optics. Every year we have grand photo ops, but where is the sustained funding for yoga research or integration into school curricula? My daughter's government school still doesn't have a single yoga period. Actions speak louder than asanas, ji. 😒
As someone who started yoga after a heart attack at 52, I can't stress enough how transformative it is. The focus on healthy elderly is spot on—we need intergenerational yoga sessions where grandparents and grandchildren practice together. That would truly embody the 'joining society with nature' that President Murmu spoke about. Bahut badhiya! 🙏
I appreciate the President acknowledging Patanjali's Ashtanga yoga—the eight limbs go far beyond physical postures. But
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