Vice Chancellor Leads International Yoga Day Celebrations at AMU
Aligarh: The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) celebrated the 10th International Yoga Day, with the Vice Chancellor Professor Naima Khatoon joining the students, faculty members, non-teaching staff and other yoga enthusiasts, at the lawns of the Department of Physical Education in performing various asanas. The 45 minute yoga practice session was guided by a three member team from the Department of Physical Education, under the supervision of Professor Syed Tariq Murtaza, Chairman of the Department.
The yoga session began at 7 am, as AMU is one of the institutions that organise the event along with the yoga session led by the Prime Minister, in sync with the guidelines of the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.
The Vice Chancellor Prof Naima Khatoon also declared open the Akhanda Yoga Kaaryashaala 3.0 and felicitated the regular attendees of the Kaaryashaala. The third episode of this Akhanda Yoga programme at AMU will culminate on the 11th International Yoga Day next year.
Highlighting this year’s theme, the Vice Chancellor stressed Yoga’s vital role in fostering individual overall health and social harmony. She urged everyone to make Yoga a part of daily routine for wellbeing and spiritual contentment.
“Aligarh Muslim University has been celebrating International Yoga Day since day one on a grand scale. Every member of the society should practice yoga for a healthy body and mind. Yoga is best for physical, mental health and emotional health”, Prof Khatoon said.
She congratulated the Chairman and his team for conducting Yoga session (Akhanda Yoga Kaaryashaala) at AMU for 732 days without any break, and spreading awareness about the benefits of Yoga. The Kaaryashaala had begun on June 21, 2022.
Earlier, Prof Syed Tariq Murtaza welcomed the attendees, explaining that Yoga isn’t just for physical health but it has social relevance also and it is a system of life. He urged everyone to follow yogic principles and register for the 7 day online workshop on Yoga that will be held on 10-16 July 2024 from 11 am to 12:30 pm, with an aim to discuss the foundational principles and genesis of original Yoga. Highlighting the achievements of the Department, Prof Murtaza informed it has conducted 18 workshops in and outside Aligarh.
The 45 minutes common Yoga protocol was conducted by expert demonstrators, Mr Dharmendra Thakur, Miss Vishakha Bhardwaj and Mr. Ausaf Ahmad, who guided the participants through various asanas and Yoga poses.
AMU officials including Prof Syed Wasim Ali, Proctor, Prof Brij Bhushan Singh, Prof Zamirullah Khan and Dr. Naushad Waheed Ansari were present on the occasion. People from the civil society, Patanjali Mahila Samiti and others were part of the celebrations.