ISM Directorate celebrates 7th International Yoga Day at Unani Hospital Shalteng

SRINAGAR, JUNE 21 2021  Joining 7th International Yoga Day celebration being held across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Director Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM), J&K, Dr Mohan Singh, today launched the global event at Government Unani Hospital Shalteng, Srinagar.

The event witnessed practical sessions on Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) conducted by yoga specialists who delivered informative lectures and demonstrations to the staff of the hospital and ISM Directorate amid strict observance of COVID protocols.

Pertinently, as per the guidelines of Ministry of AYUSH and current year’s theme “Be with Yoga, Be at Home” due to prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, most of the activities were organized from various virtual platforms.

The Yoga specialists and Medical Officers of ISM highlighted that Yoga has always been instrumental towards maintaining a healthy mind and soul since time immemorial and it is the traditional science of mindfulness, awareness and consciousness.

Directorate of ISM (Ayush) had already launched celebration of Yoga week from 14th of June 2021 wherein video documentaries depicting utility of Yoga in the prevalent health crisis and various other health challenges of day to day life demonstrating health promotion and disease prevention aspects of Yoga were displayed. The experts elaborately explained Yoga for prevention of Covid-19, Yoga for Covid Care, Yoga for life style disorders, Yoga for respiratory disorder, Yoga for mental health, Suryanamaskar and Shatkarma besides other health benefits.

Besides, various fun activities focusing on students and youth like slogan competition, jingle competition, asana-pranayama competition, quiz competitions and essay writing competitions were also organized at divisional level through virtual mode

Pertinently, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, unveiled Yoga videos in Dogri and Kashmiri languages based on Common Yoga Protocol prepared by the Directorate of ISM, J&K, in a function held on 18th of June 2021 at Raj Bhavan, Srinagar which was telecast on TV channels and social media platforms.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, who has been instrumental in making the celebration of International Day of Yoga a great success, said that Yoga plays an important role in prevention of diseases, promotion of health and holistic wellbeing of a person. He said that Yoga maintains harmony between the body and mind of persons and is useful in managing lifestyle disorders, mental stress and wellbeing, especially improving respiratory health and immunity during this ongoing COVID-19.

Dulloo stressed on the need to carry forward the Yoga awareness to every nook and corner of the UT by involving common people through PRIs and other organizations. He further stated that multidisciplinary discussions and webinars in collaboration with other line departments  like ICDS, NHM, Directorate of Health Services Jammu and Kashmir, Youth Services and Sports, PRIs, School Education Department,  Higher Education Departments, NGOs were held wherein discussions on utility of Yoga  in various fields was deliberated with a purpose to integrate Yoga in different spheres of life.

Director ISM, while addressing the participants at Government Unani Hospital Shalteng, said that due to the initiative of our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had taken a historic decision in 2014 to declare 21st of June as an International Day of Yoga. He stated that Ayush fraternity has the responsibility to encourage people for practicing yoga from their homes during the present situation.

The winners of various activities would  be awarded with e-certificates and prizes besides will be promoted at various social media platforms and website of the Directorate of AYUSH, J&K.

Deputy Director, ISM, Kashmir, Dr Syed Haider Shah, Assistant Director (HQ) Dr Sujad Hussain Shuja, Divisional Nodal Officer, AYUSH, Health & Wellness Centers, Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahamd Parray and other ISM Medical Officers and Officials participated in the event.