CMs, Govs, and political leaders join Yoga Day celebrations in NE

Governors, Chief Ministers, important personalities, senior Army, security, other officials and people from all walks of life performed Yoga in all the northeastern states on the occasion of the 11th International Yoga Day on Saturday.
To mark the occasion, hundreds of Yoga events were held in all the districts of eight northeastern states, including remote areas. Government and private offices, educational institutions, clubs, civil societies, and other organisations organised the Yoga event, and thousands of people, including women of all ages, participated.
ASSAM: Participating in the International Yoga Day (IYD) event at Salbari in Assam’s Baska district, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that Yoga connects one’s physical, mental and spiritual aspects, and it has emerged as a vital part of modern life across the world. “Yoga advocates a healthy lifestyle and influences towards building a harmonious society as well,” Sarma said, adding that it is a glorious cultural heritage of India, and the whole world has accepted the practice.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sustained efforts have made Yoga a global event now. He attributed the international recognition of Yoga to the Prime Minister, particularly his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, 2014, which resulted in the UN’s formal declaration of June 21 as International Yoga Day on December 11, 2014.
MEGHALAYA: The 11th International Day of Yoga had an innovative and serene setting in Meghalaya this year, literally inside the heart of earth with the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Shillong, organising a yoga camp deep inside the Arwah-Lumshynna Cave, a Geo heritage site in East Khasi Hills district
The ‘Yoga Sangam’ drew 65 participants, including senior GSI officials, staff, and local residents, who performed yoga against the backdrop of million-year-old limestone formations, fossil-rich walls, and the murmurs of cave stream with light rain and fog adding a mystical quality to the early morning practice. Located around 54 kilometers from Shillong, the Arwah-Lumshynna Cave is known for its breathtaking natural beauty — with ancient stalactites and stalagmites, fossilized fish bones, and narrow passages carved by time.
The Yoga Day was celebrated across Meghalaya on Saturday through Yoga camps and other programmes. State Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh attended ‘Yoga Sangam’ at the North Eastern Hill University campus organised by North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy in collaboration with Raj Bhavan, Shillong.
In her address, Lyngdoh emphasised the need to spread Yoga awareness across all sections of society for inclusive growth, stating that such efforts will help India nurture a generation of young people with healthy minds and bodies. (Correspondent)
MANIPUR: Both the valley and hill areas of Manipur joined the rest of the world to observe the IYD-2025. State Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla attended the state-level observation held at the Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal. The event witnessed the participation of around 1,000 individuals, including students, government officials, Yoga enthusiasts, security personnel, and members of the public. The governor led the people in performing Yoga asanas, insisting that it should be a habit in the everyday lives of the people.
This year’s IYD is observed with the theme ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’. The theme also reflects the idea of ‘Humanity 2.0’, shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which encourages a more balanced and thoughtful way of living.
TRIPURA: In Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Saha, after participating in the state-level IYD event at Hapania in West Tripura on Saturday, said Yoga helps people maintain a healthy body and a cool mind besides reducing physiological stress. Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the global recognition of Yoga, Saha, who holds the Health and Family Welfare portfolio, informed that as many as 177 countries in 2014 voted to observe IYD at the United Nations General Assembly.
Currently, 1.30 lakh Yoga centres are functioning in countries like the US and China, the Chief Minister said and also called for a mass movement to defeat the increasing threat of AIDS/HIV in the northeastern state.
ARUNACHAL PARDESH: In Arunachal Pradesh, Governor Lt Gen (Retd) K T Parnaik and Chief Minister Pema Khandu led the state to observe the IYD, underscoring the importance of Yoga for physical and mental well-being. The Governor said Yoga has evolved into a global movement that transcends cultural, religious, and national boundaries. “Through Yoga, inner peace of every human can foster outer peace and make the mind calm, leading to a healthier life,” Parnaik said, calling Yoga a timeless gift from India’s ancient wisdom that promotes harmony of body, mind, and spirit.
Khandu, who attended a Yoga event in Itanagar, described it as a symbol of the union of body, mind, and consciousness. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein led the celebrations at the Kongmu Kham Golden Pagoda in Namsai district. Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur, led the celebrations at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya at Anini in Dibang Valley district. He pointed to the growing global embrace of Yoga, especially during challenging times, as a source of both physical and mental strength.
MIZORAM: The International Day of Yoga was celebrated across Mizoram on Saturday with Governor Vijay Kumar Singh participating in an event at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here.
About 700 yoga practitioners took part in the event at Rajiv Gandhi stadium.
While addressing the gathering on the occasion of International Yoga Day, Singh expressed his appreciation for the increasing number of people worldwide who continue to embrace yoga.
The annual observance of the International Day of Yoga is a matter of pride and a significant recognition for India, he said.
Singh further highlighted that yoga promotes overall well-being by harmonising the body, mind and spirit and that different forms of yoga exercises are designed to enhance both physical and mental health in their own unique ways.
The governor elaborated on the significance and practice of yoga, stating that it encompasses physical fitness, stress relief, and mental clarity in a meaningful way.
SIKKIM: Sikkim celebrated the 11th International Day of Yoga with great enthusiasm at Paljor Stadium here on Saturday morning, with Governor Om Prakash Mathur and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang among others participating in the event.
The speaker and the deputy speaker of the Legislative Assembly, cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs, and senior government officials also took part in the programme.
Mathur extended his warm greetings to the people on the occasion.
“The global celebration of Yoga reflects the unique identity and ancient wisdom of our nation. What was envisioned and nurtured in India centuries ago has now transcended borders and become a part of daily life for millions across the world,” he said.
India’s most valuable contribution to the holistic well-being of humanity is honoured through this day, and the country takes immense pride in celebrating it, the governor said.