Gandhinagar, June 21 (IANS) Large-scale ‘International Yoga Day’ celebrations were held across Gujarat on Sunday, with ministers, public representatives, officials, students and citizens participating in mass yoga sessions and emphasising the need to make yoga a regular part of everyday life rather than limiting it to an annual observance.

In Porbandar, the 12th International Yoga Day was celebrated on the city’s seafront, where participants gathered amid the early morning breeze and the backdrop of the Arabian Sea.

State Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia joined citizens, yoga practitioners and government officials in a collective yoga session.

Addressing the gathering, Modhwadia said India had succeeded in connecting the world with the ancient practice of yoga through the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Referring to the United Nations’ recognition of June 21 as ‘International Yoga Day’, he said the achievement was a matter of pride for the country.

“Generations will continue to change, but the country will always remember Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving global recognition to India’s ancient yoga tradition,” Modhwadia said.

He described yoga as an important part of India’s cultural heritage and said it contributed to the holistic development of the body, mind and spirit.

The minister urged people not to restrict yoga to a single day of celebration. “Let us not limit yoga to a one-day celebration; let us make it an integral part of our daily lives,” he said.

Participants at the Porbandar event also watched live broadcasts of programmes attended by the Prime Minister and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

The programme was attended by elected representatives, district officials, Coast Guard and Navy officers, and local residents.

In Gandhinagar, a special yoga programme based on the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing” was organised at Central Vista Garden by the Gujarat State Yoga Board and the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation.

Minister of State for Finance, Kamlesh Patel, attended the event and highlighted yoga’s role in preventive healthcare.

“Yoga has evolved from a form of exercise into a global lifestyle movement since India’s proposal for an International Yoga Day was accepted by the United Nations in 2014. Regular practice could help maintain long-term physical and mental wellbeing,” he said.

He added, “Health insurance pays hospital bills after one falls ill, whereas yoga is the daily premium that keeps illness away.”

He encouraged people, particularly women managing household responsibilities, to incorporate simple yoga practices into their daily routines whenever possible.

Using a contemporary analogy, Patel said, “Just as smartphones need daily charging, yoga is a powerful charger for the body and mind.”

He also described pranayama as a natural method of supporting respiratory health.

–IANS

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