As a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Countdown Event to IDY, 2022 was organized by the Government of India on June 17, 2022 at Ganga Ghat, Parmarth Niketan Swargashram in the pilgrimage city of Rishikesh. The program was jointly organized by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India and the Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Milk Development, Uttarakhand. In the program, more than 500 livestock farmers from different districts participated in the yoga practice program.
While launching the program, Chief Guest of the program Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India, talked about the usefulness of nutritious food along with yoga. Dr. Balyan who himself holds a Ph.D. in Veterinary Science, gave information about the significance of milk products for good health of persons belonging to the susceptible category, the elderly, newborn babies and lactating mothers. Dr. Balyan shared that milk is a complete diet in which all the nutrients necessary for the development of our body are available in sufficient quantity. Milk and milk products contain energy-providing fats and carbohydrates, bones and teeth-strengthening vitamins, minerals, proteins and micronutrients that fulfill other needs of the body.
Earlier, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, inaugurated the State Sheep and Goat Superfrozen Semen Production and Artificial Insemination Laboratory at Pashulok, Rishikesh under the National Livestock Mission funded by the Government of India.
Shri Subodh Uniyal, Minister of Forest, Uttarakhand Government said, ‘We should make yoga a part of our daily routine for good health. Since ancient times, Rishikesh has been the place of penance for sages and yogis and people from all over the world have been coming to Rishikesh for yoga training. At present, Parmarth Niketan is playing a leading role in this. All of us should adopt yoga in our daily routine while being conscious of our health”.
Shri Saurabh Bahuguna, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries, Uttarakhand Government, expressed his gratitude to Dr. Balyan and said that by organizing the countdown program of International Yoga Day 2022 in Yognagri Rishikesh, awareness about yoga will be spread widely all over the world. Shri Bahugun a called upon all personnel to use latest technical and scientific methods to ensure availability of milk and milk products to the common man.
In the program, while welcoming all the great personalities and participants who came to his constituency, Mrs. Renu Bisht and Hon’ble MLA Yamkeshwar, expressed their gratitude and threw light on the importance of yoga.
Swami Chidanand Saraswati Maharaj, the Supreme President of Parmarth Niketan, said that life without spirituality is like a river without water and a bank without money. He added that river gives joy only as long as there is water in it. He further said that life full of spirituality is blissful. Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati said that Yoga is universal and India is the birthplace of Yoga. She added that Yoga is the medium of union of body, soul and the Supreme Soul.
Dr. R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary to the Chief Minister, Government of Uttarakhand said that Yoga is a means of making human whole, which leads to physical, mental and self-purification. Delivering the welcome address, Dr. B.V.R.C Purushottam, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Uttarakhand said that in the Vedas, yoga has been discussed to remove sorrow, attainment of happiness, heaven and salvation. At the end of the program Dr. Prem Kumar, Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Uttarakhand thanked all the dignitaries, animal owners and all the participants present in the program.
On this occasion, Mrs. Anita Mamgai, Hon’ble Mayor, Municipal Corporation, Rishikesh, Mr. Rakesh Raturi, Hon’ble Chairman, Municipal Council, Muni ki Reti, Mr. Madhav Agarwal, President, Nagar Panchayat Swargashram Jauk, Shri Vijay Kumar Jogdande, District Magistrate, Pauri, Dr. B.C. Karnataka, Chief Executive Officer, ULDB, Dr. Avinash Anand, Chief Executive Officer, USWDB were present.
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