Pushkar Singh Dhami: The Chief Minister said that this event is not just a race, but a powerful campaign to spread healthy living, positive thinking and yoga among the people. This program is an important initiative towards increasing public awareness towards Yoga and building a healthy society. The Chief Minister said that Devbhoomi Uttarakhand has been a place of yoga, spiritual practice and penance for sages for centuries. The rich spiritual tradition and natural environment here give humanity the message of health, balance and positive life. He said that Yoga is an ancient cultural heritage of India, which is a scientific and life-useful method that establishes harmony between body, mind and soul.
The Chief Minister said that Yoga has gained global recognition due to the visionary leadership and efforts of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. After his proposal in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, June 21 was recognized as International Yoga Day and today crores of people are practicing yoga in more than 190 countries of the world. The Chief Minister said that in the present times, amidst increasing stress, depression and various health challenges, Yoga has emerged as an effective medium for a healthy and balanced life. Calling upon the youth to make regular yoga and exercise a part of their daily routine, he said that healthy, energetic and disciplined youth are the cornerstone of the bright future of the state and the country.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government is continuously working to establish Uttarakhand as a global center of Yoga, Ayurveda, Wellness and Naturopathy. Through the new yoga policy, encouragement to yoga and meditation centers, support to yoga instructors and new opportunities for yoga and wellness based employment are being developed.
The Chief Minister called upon all citizens to take a pledge to adopt yoga every day, adopt a healthy and disciplined lifestyle, contribute in building a drug-free society and spread the message of yoga to every person. He expressed confidence that the youth of the state will play an important role in giving Yoga the form of a mass movement and will participate in building a healthy, prosperous and strong Uttarakhand. On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Shri Madan Kaushik, MLA Shri Vinod Chamoli, Mayor Dehradun Shri Saurabh Thapliyal, Secretary AYUSH Mrs. Ranjana Rajguru, District Magistrate Dehradun Dr. Ashish Chauhan and Senior Superintendent of Police Shri Parmendra Doval were present.
