‘Yoga does not belong to any particular Religion,’ clarifies SPO AYUSH, Nagaland

Paiwang Konyak, Keoshu Yimkhiung and others joins International Day of Yoga at Indira Gandhi Stadium Kohima on June 21. (Morung Photo)

Nagaland

21st June 2025

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 21

Nagaland today joined the rest of the world in observing International Day of Yoga under the theme “Yoga for one earth, one health.”

In the state capital Kohima, Nagaland Health & Family Welfare Minister P Paiwang Konyak, Youth Resources & Sports Advisor S Keoshu Yimkhiung, H&FW Commissioner & Secretary Anoop Kinchi and several other officers, medical department, YRS staff, NSS volunteers, Assam Rifles jawans joined the day at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, jointly organised by National AYUSH Mission (NAM) Nagaland, Department of H&FW and Department of Youth Resources & Sports Nagaland.

Dr Seyiekhrietuo John, State Programme Officer (SPO) AYUSH, Nagaland said that Yoga Sangam was performed today, which is the flagship activity of International Day of Yoga 2025. Stating that people are now coming to know about the benefits of Yoga, he said “Of course, we have some misunderstanding but Yoga does not belong to any particular religion.”

11th Edition of International Yoga Day was observed at Multipurpose Stadium, Mokokchung, on June 21, under the global theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” The event was organised by District Administration, Mokokchung, in collaboration with District Youth Resources and Sports Office and District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), Mokokchung. Over 200 participants gathered to mark the occasion. Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung in a brief address emphasised on the need to integrate yoga into daily routines, citing its long-term benefits for a balanced and healthy lifestyle. The programme featured a guided yoga training session led by instructors Tovili Wati and Imkong. Rongsentoshi Jamir, Nodal Officer, Youth Resources and Sports, Mokokchung, chaired the programme.

“Yoga is for all races. The word Yoga is from Sanskrit,” he said adding “It belongs to every one of us.”

Now, the world is looking towards how to be happy and to how to be healthy etc, Dr John told the media persons.

Talking on this year theme, he said “If we care for ourselves, if we heal ourselves we are healing the world.” He said that International Day of Yoga has brought people together from various communities, various religions and from various backgrounds.

The beauty of celebrating this International Day of Yoga is it brings us all together, he said adding “‘By performing Yoga Sangam, by performing the breathing techniques, we learn something new. In such way, we become happy person, we start controlling our minds and we start leading a healthier life.”

The participants of today programme took pledge to “commit myself to always be in a balance state of mine.” “Ii is in this state that my highest self- development reaches its greatest possibility, I commit to do my duty to self, family, at work, to society and to the world, for the promotion of peace, health and harmony,” the participants pledged.