The government has been extremely responsive to criticism in reshaping how the mass yoga campaign will run on June 21, International Yoga Day. Objections by some religious groups regarding elements of the ancient practice for health have been acted upon. If misgivings still remain in some other groups, the mistake can’t be that of the government, which is committed to spreading the message of yoga as it is thought of as an invaluable gift of India’s ancient traditions.
There is no reason why anyone should find the practice objectionable if yoga indeed offers a holistic route to well-being, especially when it is “devoid of any religious trappings”, as a California court had recently determined. With yoga sessions to be organised in 191 countries, including 47 members of the OIC, and Pakistan, where private arrangements have been made, the dissenters have now been reduced to a minority.
Much as t’ai chi is not just a Chinese practice of well-being but has found worldwide acceptance as a way of maintaining fitness, yoga too has its votaries around the world to the extent that a day has been marked for this by the UN. This is to be celebrated, while ignoring the silly chatter from both proponents and opponents.
