SURENDRA PAL SINGH/Uttarkashi
In the run-up to the International Day of Yoga, Uttarakhand’s border district of Uttarkashi is abuzz with Yoga. The children and the aged alike are practicing yoga in this high altitude region where Gangotri and Yamunotri are situated and which has a border with China. The AYUSH department is holding yoga camps in villages under its ‘Har Ghar Yog’ campaign in addition to organising yoga, painting and oration competitions in educational institutions.
Uttarkashi is a border district with a history of trade with Tibet and currently shares a border with China. The Central and State governments are focusing on enhancing livelihood and improving the lives of people in such border districts in the State. The government Ayurvedic clinic at Barsali held yoga camps in Barsali, Nakuri, Pav and Athali which were attended by more than 100 villagers. The locals in these high altitude villages also took a pledge to practice Yoga regularly. Women, senior citizens, Gram Pradhans and the youths participated in these camps. Rather than being formal events, these camps turned out to be activities which actually raised public awareness on Yoga. Yoga trainers Nimita Bisht, Devendra Chandra and others guided the villagers in basic yogic postures, exercises and Pranayama. It was pointed out that Yoga is good for both physical and mental health.
Similar activities were also held in educational institutions and other locations under the National AYUSH Mission. It is pertinent to mention here that with the Vibrant Village programme underway focussing on locations like the mountain villages in Uttarakhand, the focus on Yoga has added another angle to both lifestyle and economic aspects. Yoga is also boosting economic activity with many thronging to the mountains to practice it in the clean air and ambiance of the Himalaya. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central government has increased focus on border regions, enabling both infrastructural development and other activities to stall migration from the mountain regions, boost local economy and enhance national security by positioning villagers in these regions as guards of the nation.
