Grand event of Yoga Day Countdown organized in Parmarth Niketan, message of Yoga echoed on the banks of Ganga.

Rishikesh. To commemorate the 12th International Yoga Day, a grand seven-day countdown program was organized at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh on Sunday. Hundreds of yoga practitioners, saints, officials and local citizens participated in this program organized under the International Yoga Day Countdown campaign “Gangotri to Gangasagar” and gave the message of health, harmony and overall well-being.

This special program organized on the banks of the holy Ganga was also telecast live through YouTube. Parmarth Niketan President Swami Chidanand Saraswati, International Director Dr. Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati, Yogacharyas, AYUSH Department officials and representatives of various social organizations had a dignified presence in the program.

The event was part of the preparations for the 12th International Yoga Day to be celebrated on June 21. This year the theme of Yoga Day has been kept as “Yoga for Healthy Age”. In the program, a call was made to take the “Har Ghar Yoga, Har Ghat Yoga” campaign to every person.

Swami Chidanand Saraswati said in his address that Yoga is not just a physical exercise but is a living form of the spiritual consciousness of India. Yoga teaches man to establish balance between body, mind and soul. He said that Yoga is such an invaluable gift of India, which is working to connect the entire world.

He said, “Do yoga, do it daily, have fun” and “Dose of yoga every day” should be made a part of life. Swami Ji said that healthy life is not just a name for long life, but real health is to live every age with energy, enthusiasm and purpose.

Dr. Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati explained to the participants the importance of mental peace and spiritual balance through meditation and yoga. He also conducted a group meditation session in the divine atmosphere of the banks of Ganga.

More than 500 participants took part in the Common Yoga Protocol during the event. This yoga session, which lasted for about 45 minutes, was conducted by Dr. Indu Sharma of Morarji Desai National Yoga Institute and Yogacharya Ganga Nandini of Parmarth Niketan in both Hindi and English languages. In the yoga session, various yoga asanas, pranayama and yogic activities were practiced, giving the message of promoting physical health, mental clarity, emotional balance and immunity.

The program was organized under the joint aegis of Parmarth Niketan, Ministry of AYUSH, National AYUSH Mission Uttarakhand and Indian Yoga Association. On this occasion, representatives of various departments and institutions pledged to make Yoga a mass movement and contribute in building a healthy India.

It is noteworthy that under the “Gangotri to Gangasagar” campaign, the message of Yoga is being spread from the origin of Ganga to Sagar Sangam. After successful events in Gangotri and Rishikesh, now the next stop of this campaign will be Haridwar.

Held on the sacred valleys of the Himalayas and the serene banks of Mother Ganga, this program inspired the participants to inculcate spiritual energy, positivity and adopt a healthy lifestyle.