LEH: The enthusiasm of people in Leh to celebrate International Yoga Day on Sunday was exemplary and several places across the district witnessed horde of people coming out to take part in the event.
World Yoga Day was celebrated by Fire and Fury Corps at Siachen Glacier, Leh, Kargil and other forward locations along the borders. The event at Leh was attended by over 500 personnel including Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Jawans of the Leh Garrison at parade ground Ladakh Scout Regimental Centre (LSRC) Phyang.
Talking to the media, Lt. Col Anup Kumar of LSRC Phyang said that Indian Army has incorporated Yoga Asanas into the daily routine of the soldier in High Altitude Areas having harsh climatic conditions. He said practice of Yoga by soldiers in such an environment has helped them to combat various diseases such as High Altitude Sickness, Hypoxia, Pulmonary Odema and the Psychological stresses of isolation and fatigue. He added that the respiratory adaptations of Pranayama helped the soldiers to better adapt the low oxygen environment in High Altitude Areas.
Anup further added that in a challenging environment like Leh, the most significant benefit of Yoga which makes body and mind positive, well relaxed and de-stressed assisted the soldiers to operate successfully.
The International Yoga Day was also organised by 1 J and K (I) Coy NCC under the command of Col Prashant K Wankhade under the aegis of Group Headquarters Srinagar at JNV school campus Leh where Member Parliament Thupstan Chhewang was the Chief Guest. Kunzang, a Yoga practitioner at Mahabodhi School Leh and trained in Yoga techniques at Nashik in Maharashtra and Bengaluru led the Yoga session.
Wankhade informed that at JNV Leh approximately one thousand plus cadets of NCC took part while 200 cadets at Govt Higher Secondary School Baroo Kargil and 50 cadets at Govt Higher Secondary School Nubra joined the event.
Thupstan Tsewang encouraged all the cadets for participating in this mega event with high spirit and enthusiasm. He also congratulated NCC Officers/ staff in Leh and Srinagar for organising these historical events in remote areas of Ladakh.
Colonel Wankhade said that the high standards displayed by the participants were of an exemplary order. He also thanked the district administration for cooperation in making the event successful, memorable and exhilarating.
Besides these two venues, the International Yoga Day in Leh was also celebrated at various educational institutions, offices and army and Para military centres with great zeal and enthusiasm.