INDIA. Mumbai: The 9th International Yoga Day (IYD) was celebrated with great enthusiasm across various Defense establishments, including the Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force, on Wednesday.
Under the theme “Ocean Ring Yoga and Yoga from Arctic to Antarctica,” camps were conducted with the participation of a large number of people. Over 7,000 naval personnel and defense civilians, along with their family members, took part in the camps held at naval units in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and Karnataka.
Naval personnel on board naval ships and submarines on the high seas and in foreign ports also observed IYD, showcasing the benefits of yoga across the oceans in accordance with the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) by the Union Ministry of Ayush.
“The Yoga Institute” in Mumbai, one of the oldest organized yoga centers in the world, conducted yoga sessions on board INS Visakhapatnam and INS Mormugao at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.
Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command (WNC), graced the event as the Chief Guest.
Special yoga sessions were also conducted for the children of Navy Children School across the WNC to instill the spirit of yoga among the younger generation.
Port calls were planned at various locations including Chattogram (Bangladesh), Safaga (Egypt), Jakarta (Indonesia), Mombasa (Kenya), Toamasina (Madagascar), Muscat (Oman), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Phuket (Thailand), and Dubai (UAE) by Indian Naval ships such as “Kiltan,” “Chennai,” “Shivalik,” “Sunayna,” “Trishul,” “Tarkash,” “Vagir,” “Sumitra,” and “Brahmaputra” respectively.
IYD celebrations were also planned on board ships of several foreign navies in collaboration with Indian overseas missions, involving over 1,200 foreign Navy personnel.
At Colaba Military Station in South Mumbai, a camp was organized where approximately 750 Army personnel, civilians, and their families participated. Lt Gen HS Kahlon, General Officer Commanding, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa area, led the enthusiastic gathering in commemorating the event that has brought the world together.
In Sainik School, Satara, Maharashtra, the country’s first Sainik School, over 100 cadets from various classes took part in Essay Writing and Poster Making Competitions.
As a tribute to one of the heroes of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Major Vetri Nathan, a memorial was inaugurated under the aegis of HQ MG & G Area in Colaba, South Mumbai. Lt Gen HS Kahlon felicitated the family members of Nathan in the presence of Army personnel and veterans.
He urged all ranks of the Armed Forces to draw inspiration from Nathan’s life and embody courage and selfless devotion to duty.
Major Vetri Nathan, hailing from Mumbai and belonging to the 11 Gorkha Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army, fought gallantly and successfully completed his mission before making the supreme sacrifice in the Kargil sector during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. He was posthumously conferred the Vir Chakra for his bravery.
Also Read: Homage Paid To War Heroes on ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’
