Rishikesh: Vice-President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu, Uttarakhand Governor Dr. K. K. Paul and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat jointly lighted the traditional lamp to inaugurate the International Yoga festival at Parmaratath Niketan Ashram at Rishikesh.
Speaking on the occasion Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu said that Yoga is part and parcel of Uttarakhand and ingrained in the water, air and soil of the state. He said that it was a great honour for him to come to the banks of pious Ganga river to inaugurate the festival.
The Vice-President of India said that the Yoga Festival being organized by Parmarath Niketan has become popular throughout the world and provides an opportunity to the participants to transform their lives. He said that Yoga is a gift to the entire world from India as it was associated with the spiritual, physical and emotional well-being of the human race.
He said that Yoga is related to control of mind and connectivity as it keeps the Yoga practitioner “inline” in every aspect of life during the present fast paced “Online” lifestyles. “ Yoga is essential as it gives quality to our lives and helps us fight diseases and lead a physically healthy and spiritually enriching life,” he said. He said that Yoga is scientific and could provide solutions to all the ills of the society.
Uttarakhand Governor Dr. K. K. Paul said that Yoga balances with nature and it should be adopted in every sphere of life. He said that with the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yoga has become a global revolution. He further said that not only physical health but the mental problems of tension and depression could be cured through Yoga.
Governor Dr.K. K.Paul said that Yoga has been recognized and become a global phenomenon due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the meaning of Yoga is to join and as per Swami Vivekanand, all the religions strive for attaining the supreme God and this can be attained through Yoga.
Talking about Patanjali, who gave ‘Yoga sutras’, Governor said that Yoga has been part and parcel of culture of India through ages and people had been coming to Rishikesh to practice Yoga which has now become the international Capital of Yoga
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat welcomed the 1500 participants from 94 countries who are participating in the International Yoga Festival. He hoped that the participants from across the globe would take the message of love, contentment and happiness from the festival. He said that it was the power of Yoga that has attracted so many people from the entire world. Chief Minister Rawat said that Yoga is useful in curing depression and tension related problems. He said that through the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi June 21 is celebrated as International Yoga Day in the entire world. He said India has given a powerful message of love, unity, harmony ,well-being and peace through Yoga for a healthy world.
Union Minister of state for Tourism K.J. Alphons said that Yoga gives a message of unity of mankind. He called upon the participants to fight for the rights of women, children, hunger, global warming and violence. Swami Chidanand of Parmarath Niketan said that Yoga symbolizes sacrifice and spirituality. He said that at spiritual place like Rishikesh there is need for “Why I” instead of “WI-FI” to attain the spiritual goal through Yoga.
Uttarakhand assembly Speaker Prem Chand Aggarwal, Uttarakhand Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat, High Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat, BJP legislator Ritu Khanduri, Prem Baba and other dignitaries were present at the inaugural function.
