New Delhi: From the icy heights of Siachen Glacier to naval ships anchored in Visakhapatnam, the Indian armed forces on Saturday observed the International Day of Yoga across the country, reaffirming their commitment to discipline and inner strength.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur, accompanied by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.
“There was a time when yoga was considered limited to saints and seers. But today, people are performing Surya Namaskar on mats from New York’s Times Square to lawns near the Eiffel Tower. Is it less than a miracle?” Singh said.
This is the “rising soft power” of India, and yoga has become its “strongest ambassador”, he added.
The Indian Air Force also joined in the celebrations.
At an event held at Delhi-based Western Air Command of the IAF, a large of number of its personnel and their family members gathered at Subroto Park to engage in yoga routines, and in the middle of the field a symbolic formation of ‘OP SINDOOR’ was made with people standing on mats and doing various ‘asanas’.
The famous Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) also shared a video clip in a post on X, showing some air warriors performing yoga routines with a Surya Kiran aircraft parked behind them on a tarmac.
A senior Army official said Yoga Day was celebrated with great fervour and spirit across the country.
From the edges of Pangong Tso lake to Port Blair, and from Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh to the Rann of Kachchh, soldiers performed yoga, embracing the ancient Indian practice as a tool for physical, mental and emotional resilience, the official said.
The Army Chief’s presence at the Udhampur event underscored the importance of yoga in “enhancing combat readiness and stress management among troops”, he said.
In Delhi, Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General N S Raja Subramani performed yoga with troops and families at Cariappa Parade Ground, joined by more than 3,400 participants, including defence attaches from 25 countries, NCC cadets and school students.
In Visakhapatnam, Indian Navy personnel participated in the main yoga day celebrations led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sessions were held along the R K Beach and onboard Navy ships anchored nearby.
“As the sun rose over the RK Beach, personnel and families of the Sunrise Command, along with the citizens of Andhra Pradesh, came together in breath and spirit with the Hon’ble PM… embracing the energy of the sea and sky,” Eastern Naval Command posted on X.
A Navy spokesperson said nearly 10,000 people, naval personnel and family members, from the Eastern Naval Command participated in the event.
Navy Chief Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, and Shashi Tripathi, president, NWWA (Navy Wives Welfare Association) led the naval participation at Visakhapatnam, the official said.
The maritime lineup included frontline Eastern Fleet ships and Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessels — Veera and Vigraha — stationed at the Visakhapatnam anchorage off the RK Beach.
The Navy also shared a video of crew members of aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, and others performing yoga onboard it.
A common yoga protocol session were conducted at all naval bases and ships at sea and in harbour including at foreign ports.
Trainees of friendly foreign navies also participated in the activities with zeal.
Indian naval warships mission deployed across Indian Ocean Region, conducted yoga session at sea and in foreign ports in Mauritius, Oman, Malaysia and Indonesia, the spokesperson said
The Indian Coast Guard also held a ‘Yoga Sangam’ event at its Noida complex in collaboration with Yog Vandana Institute. Similar sessions were conducted at more than 60 locations across India’s coastline and island territories
The defence ministry on Saturday said nine lakh cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) participated in synchronised yoga sessions at iconic locations across the country to celebrate the day, epitomising the nation’s unwavering commitment to health and wellness.
Indian Army personnel deployed on United Nations peacekeeping missions and with military training teams abroad also marked the occasion with yoga sessions, the officials said.
Indian troops participating in the multilateral exercise ‘Khaan Quest’ in Mongolia and the bilateral exercise ‘Shakti’ in France conducted yoga with fellow international soldiers, reflecting India’s cultural outreach.
These widespread celebrations reflect the Indian Army’s belief in the motto ‘Yoga Karmasu Kaushalam’ (Yoga is excellence in action), and its resolve to incorporate yoga into the daily regimen of personnel.
The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga is ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’.
