PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | DEHRADUN
The 11th International Day of Yoga was celebrated with enthusiasm under the guidance of Swami Ramdev, jointly organised by Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haryana Yoga Commission, and the AYUSH Department of Haryana in the historic land of Kurukshetra.
Swami Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna and the Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, led thousands in mass Yoga practice at the sacred Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra. Simultaneously, Patanjali Yoga Samiti conducted free Yoga sessions in all 650 districts of India under the Common Yoga Protocol. Over one lakh Yoga practitioners performed Yoga together in Kurukshetra, setting a new record. Participants pledged to embrace Yoga and Swadeshi, in line with this year’s theme – “One Earth, One Health.”
Speaking on the occasion, Ramdev said that over two billion people across 200 countries now practice Yoga. “Yoga has become the duty of this era. It is the eternal essence of Sanatan Dharma, an unmatched science deeply rooted in our traditions, culture, and nature,” he remarked. Yoga, he explained, is the foundation of our intellect, actions, nature and culture, forming the bedrock of value-based prosperity.
Swami Ramdev lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a Yogi Warrior, who has written letters to village heads to promote Yoga. He said, “Sarpanches and Gram Pradhans must now transform into Yoga-Panches and Yoga-Pradhans.”
He stressed that Yoga has the potential to reduce India’s health budget to zero, saving Rs 10 lakh crore spent annually on medicines. “If every citizen adopts daily Yoga practice, this expenditure can be entirely avoided,” he said.
Ramdev also urged people to adopt Swadeshi to attain national prosperity. Quoting surveys from Oxfam Global UK, he said foreign invaders and companies looted over $100 trillion from India between 1765 and 1900 — a plunder that still continues today. He called for a mass movement to boycott foreign goods and promote Swadeshi, emphasizing that “Prosperity for Charity” remains Patanjali’s mission, with 100 per cent profits dedicated to the service of Bharat.
He also emphasized the need to liberate India from the 1835 Macaulay education system. Institutions like Patanjali Gurukulam, Acharyakulam, and the Indian Education Board (Bharatiya Shiksha Board – BSB) are working to build a new generation of ethical, character-driven leaders.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini reiterated that the government is committed to taking Yoga to every citizen. “Our goal is to make Haryana addiction-free and stress-free,” he said. Acharya Balkrishna, in his address, stated that 30 to 60 minutes of daily Yoga practice can lead to a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life. He emphasised Yoga’s power in anti-aging, boosting immunity, and even reversing diseases. “Thousands of research papers have been published globally in top scientific journals, and Patanjali Research Foundation alone has published hundreds of them,” he informed.
