Under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, a comprehensive review meeting was held today to assess the preparations for celebrating the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY-2025) on 21 June across the length and breadth of J&K.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, GAD and Information Departments, Secretary, H&ME; Secretary, YS&S; Secretary, RDD; Secretary, Transport; MD, NHM; Director, School Education, Kashmir/Jammu; Project Director, Samagra Shiksha; Director Health, Jammu/Kashmir; Director, Ayush besides other concerned officers.
Deputy Commissioners joined the meeting from their respective offices through video conferencing.
During this meeting the Chief Secretary observed “Yoga is not merely a physical exercise,”. “It is a mind-refreshing discipline that fosters peace of mind, good health, and inclusivity—benefits that transcend age and gender.”
He encouraged all to participate in these celebrations especially the school children to foster discipline and consciousness about the wealth of health in them.
Chief Secretary Dulloo called upon students to lead campus-level awareness drives, reminding them that discipline and holistic well-being through yoga can illuminate minds and enrich communities.
He simultaneously impressed upon the DCs to take all the measures to facilitate participation of masses in district level events and enquired about the preparedness made by them.
Dulloo took this occasion to enjoin upon the Health Department to provide the trained personal for conducting these events at each location. He asked for demonstrating the highest level of coordination with other departments especially that of Youth Services & Sports, RDD&PR, H&UDD, NRLM, Information, Transport and other concerned line departments.
The Chief Secretary further advised the Department to encourage all the departments to participate in this marquee event. He also suggested holding yoga sessions at all the iconic locations of the UT for their impact and mass participation and awareness about this health activity.
The Secretary H&ME , Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah while throwing light on the status of preparedness made out that the UT has already embarked on an extensive “Yoga Samavesh” outreach (13 March–21 June), featuring common Yoga Protocol demosin schools and other public places.
He further revealed that in order to ensure inclusiveness, yoga sessions for drug de-addicts at IMHANS Srinagar are held continuously and that for specially-abled students at CRC Jammu was held on 30 April and CRC Srinagar on 5 May this year.
Regarding the holding of iconic-place yoga sessions it was given out that prelude Yoga sessions were conducted at Martand Sun Temple (28 May), Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex (22 May), Krimichi Shiva Temple (22 May), and Sugandesha Temple, PattanBaramulla (27 May) also.
Other signature events that were highlighted includes the conduction of Harit Yoga (Sarwal Park, 5 June), Samyoga for medical students (GMC Kathua, 4 June), and Yoga Unplugged (GDC Udhampur, 30 May) for the awareness and impact across the cross section of the society.
With respect to the flagship “Yoga Sangam” on 21 June, it was added that J&K will join the nation in executing mass yoga demonstrations based on the Common Yoga protocol at thousands of locations, contributing to over 100,000 venues across the country. It was added that common citizens, schools, and institutions are urged to register via the QR code for synchronized participation after getting registered on the AYUSH portal
As far as the logistic support for the main event is concerned the Directorate of Ayush was entrusted for making the arrangements for the participation of maximum people here. Directives were given to secure yoga mats and attire, arrange refreshments, and deploy MDNIY-trained instructors for smooth conduct of all the events scheduled across the districts of the UT.
The DCs were further asked to finalize district level venues in coordination with law & order maintaining agencies here.It was impressed upon all that a unified, whole-of-government approach ensures convergence of line departments, complemented by budgetary support under the National Ayush Mission and an aggressive publicity campaign would be key to making this event a success here.
About International Day of Yoga it was said that since its UN adoption, IDY has evolved into the world’s largest annual yoga celebration, uniting millions in pursuit of physical, mental, and spiritual balance.
Marking a decade since its inception by the United Nations in 2014 this year’s theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health” underscores the universal relevance of yoga in promoting harmony between individuals and the planet.