From symbolic celebration to everyday discipline
The sight of thousands of people bending in unison on the banks of Dal Lake, led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on the 12th International Day of Yoga, was undeniably powerful. Against the backdrop of the Zabarwan range, Sunday’s mass yoga session was more than a carefully curated spectacle; it was a reminder of a civilisational gift that we in Kashmir have yet to fully weave into our daily lives. The Lieutenant Governor’s emphasis on Yoga as a “timeless gift from India” that guides humanity toward a healthier, happier, more balanced future is not mere rhetoric. At a time when our society is increasingly caught between digital distraction, economic uncertainty, and psychological strain, the promise of a practice that aligns body, mind, and emotions deserves serious consideration. It is telling that global health experts now recommend Yoga as one of the most effective lifestyle interventions for both physical and mental well-being.
Yet, the question for Jammu and Kashmir is not whether Yoga is beneficial; the science is clear, but whether we are prepared to move beyond annual commemorations. A single day of mass participation, telecast speeches, and high-profile attendance by ministers, senior officials, and youth representatives will mean little if it is not followed by sustained investment in community-level practice. The LG rightly linked Yoga to the campaign for a “Drug-Free Jammu Kashmir”. Our young people are facing a silent epidemic of substance abuse, anxiety, and alienation. If Yoga is to play any meaningful role in prevention and recovery, it must be available not only on picturesque lawns and curated events but in government schools, colleges, mohalla centres, rehabilitation facilities, and rural health infrastructure. The AYUSH Department, praised for its outreach, needs clear targets, transparent monitoring, and adequate funding to ensure that this is not another slogan-heavy initiative. There is also a cultural dimension that cannot be ignored. For Yoga to take root here, it must be presented not as a political statement but as a universal discipline that “transcends all barriers”, as the LG himself underlined. That requires sensitivity, respect for local traditions, and a conscious effort to keep partisanship away from public health and well-being. The Dal Lake event has showcased what is possible when the state mobilises its resources. The challenge now is to turn this moment into a movement; one that quietly enters homes, classrooms, and workplaces. If Yoga is to truly “unite the world” and guide us toward a healthier future, it must first become a lived habit in Kashmir, not just a picturesque photograph on International Yoga Day.
