New Delhi: For the first time, March 7, 2021, was celebrated as Yoga Day in Pakistan making it clear the much cherished oriental and the Hindu system of keeping oneself pure and healthy in body and mind is gaining popularity in that country.
Reports on the website ‘Gurualpha.com’ said Yoga Day was celebrated in Multan by the Yoga Federation to raise ‘awareness’ about the benefits of yoga.
The Yoga Awareness Morning was organized by the officials of the Federation. In these yoga classes, women, children, men and elderly people participated and learned ways to make life stronger.
The Pakistan government has also in the past hailed Yoga.
However, International Yoga Day – June 21 since 2015 – is often celebrated in Pakistan on a muted scale.
Founder of Yoga Pakistan, Shamshad Haider, reportedly runs over 50 yoga clubs across the country “Yoga can change your physical and mental capacity quickly while preparing the mind and body for long-term health,” said a Twitter missive from the Pakistan government in 2019 on the occasion of International Yoga Day on June 21.
It was also stated that respiratory distress is relieved and physical strength is increased, more metabolism is balanced and heart rate and blood flow in the arteries are improved.
In addition, weight loss can make a person feel refreshed.
The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated every year on 21 June since 2015 under the aegis of the United Nations General Assembly.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in his UN address suggested the date of 21 June (2014), as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and shares a special significance in many parts of the world.
On 11 December 2014, India’s Permanent Representative in UN, Asoke Mukherji, had introduced the draft resolution in the United Nations General Assembly. The draft text received broad support from 177 Member States who sponsored the text, which was adopted without a vote.
This initiative found support from many global leaders.
A total of 177 nations co-sponsored the resolution, which is the highest number of co-sponsors ever for any UNGA Resolution of such nature.
It may be mentioned that radical elements in Pakistan and some opportunists in India have tried to drag Yoga into some kinds of controversies.
It was alleged that the promotion of yoga was a partisan Hindu operation.
Subsequently, the Surya Namaskar (sun salutations) was dropped in some functions as Muslims had objected to the implication that the sun or the Surya is the Hindu God.
