On the occasion of the 11th International Day of Yoga, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Governor Bandaru Dattatreya participated in a large-scale yoga event in Kurukshetra, led by renowned Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev.
Highlighting the government’s wellness initiatives, CM Saini announced a mandatory five-minute yoga break in all state government offices to help reduce workplace stress and improve energy levels.
“To reduce stress, we have introduced a five-minute break in every office so that employees can recharge and resume work with renewed energy. We hope this is also adopted by the private sector,” said Saini while speaking to reporters.
He also linked the practice of yoga with the state’s ongoing efforts to combat drug abuse, encouraging community participation through cyclothons, marathons, and incentives for drug-free villages.
“Whether it’s a cyclothon or a marathon against drugs, we are working to make Haryana ‘Yoga Yukt, Nasha Mukt’. Several panchayats have already become drug-free, and sarpanches are being encouraged and rewarded to keep their wards addiction-free,” he added.
Swami Ramdev, who conducted the yoga session, praised the transformation of yoga into a nationwide movement, attributing it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. He urged citizens to incorporate yoga into their daily lives, not just observe it once a year.
“Yoga has become a mass movement. PM Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047 is rooted in yoga. Everyone should commit to practicing yoga for at least 10 to 20 minutes daily—it should become a way of life,” Ramdev said.
This year’s celebrations are themed “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human and planetary well-being. The message of wellness resonated across the country as millions participated in yoga events marking this global day.