Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 21 Jun: The Mussoorie‑Dehradun Development Authority’s (MDDA’s) City Forest Park in Dehradun turned into a grand confluence of health, spirituality and nature on the occasion of the 12th International Yoga Day today. More than a thousand participants, led by Chief Secretary (CS) Anand Bardhan and MDDA Vice Chairman Banshidhar Tiwari gathered at the park to practice Yoga and Pranayama and to pledge towards building a healthier Uttarakhand. Senior administrative officers, representatives of various institutions and hundreds of local citizens participated in the event.
The event, organised by MDDA, resonated with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in giving yoga global recognition and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s efforts to establish Uttarakhand as the capital of yoga, wellness and naturopathy.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan participated as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Bardhan observed that yoga is an invaluable heritage of India’s eternal culture that has shown the world the path to healthy living. He also noted that through the efforts of the Prime Minister, yoga has gained international identity and millions across the globe have adopted it as part of their lifestyle. The CS emphasised that yoga balances body, mind and soul, offering peace and positive energy in today’s stressful and fast‑paced life, and is not merely about personal health but about building a healthy society and nation. Participants, guided by trainers, performed various asanas, pranayama and meditation, with children, youth and elders joining enthusiastically and resolving to make yoga a part of their daily routine. After the Yoga session, MDDA Vice‑Chairman Banshidhar Tiwari honoured the yoga trainers with certificates of appreciation, acknowledging their contribution to spreading awareness.
The event was not confined to a formal celebration but was linked to nature conservation, healthy lifestyle and social awareness. The City Forest Park, developed by MDDA has emerged as a new centre for health, environment and community activities. The natural surroundings, open spaces, tracks and green areas provided an ideal setting for collective yoga and wellness practices. The participants praised the cleanliness, greenery and facilities of the park, describing the experience of practising yoga in such an environment as akin to a spiritual journey. Tiwari said Uttarakhand has always been the land of yoga, penance and spiritual practice, and the government is working with commitment to develop it as a global hub of yoga, Ayurveda, wellness and natural medicine. He urged the people to adopt yoga in daily life and contribute to building a drug‑free, disciplined and healthy society.
