Gujarat govt to try and make yoga a regular practice in schools: CM Anandiben Patel

The Gujarat government will try to introduce yoga as a regular practice in schools, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel said on Sunday.

More than 1.25 crore people, including school children, senior citizens and women, took part in the first International Yoga Day celebrations across Gujarat.

Several trained participants performed yoga on boats in Narmada river at Bharuch.

The Chief Minister along with Governor O P Kohli remained present at the state-level celebration held at GMDC ground here.

The CM also practised 'asanas' for almost 35 minutes along with more than 70,000 participants, including IPS and IAS officers, MLAs, corporators and BJP leaders, who gathered at the ground on Sunday morning.

"I believe that more than 1.25 crore people, including school children, women, and senior citizens, took part in the Yoga Day celebration across the state today. We will try to make this a regular practice in all the schools," said Patel.

She also said that her government would try to arrange such yoga sessions for common people in future.

"Even at village level, people have participated in this event with great enthusiasm. I have asked my officers to organise such yoga sessions for common citizens at such open grounds every Sunday for at least half-an-hour," she said.

To make the event more interesting, the state government has come up with an idea of 'Yoga on the River', where 1,500 trained participants performed yoga on 500 boats in Narmada river at Bharuch today.

In the city, children performed yoga while skating at the Sabarmati Riverfront, said Patel.

In her recorded speech, played before the 37-minute long session started, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing yoga at the doorsteps of the world.

"Accepting the proposal made by our PM, the United Nations have announced to celebrate June 21 as International Yoga Day. This is matter of great joy for all of us.
Narendrabhai gave the world an opportunity to see life with a positive approach," she said in her address.

As announced earlier by the state government, the International Yoga Day was celebrated at more than 29,000 locations across the state, including at the GMDC ground here and an official event was held in each of the 33 districts.

Celebrations were also held at many other places, including schools, colleges, gardens, public places and open grounds across the state.

While the CM remained present here, other ministers and local MLAs and MPs took part in the celebrations in their respective regions.