Nagaland church slams yoga event

KOHIMA: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has reacted sharply to the state government’s decision to celebrate the International Day of Yoga on Sunday.It said Sunday is a holiday for Christians and holding an event on the day would hurt their religious sentiments. Nagaland is a Christian-dominated state.The Nagaland government, through the department of school education (DoSE), has directed all schools, both government and private, to observe the International Day of Yoga on Sunday.In a press release, the director of DoSE, Zaveyi Nyekha, requested schools to submit a report, along with photographs, on how they observe the day.On June 3, during a meeting on the matter chaired by chief secretary Pankaj Kumar, the government decided to hold the inaugural function at Little Flower Higher Secondary School, Kohima.It was decided that the police department would provide security at all designated venues and the medical department would provide first-aid.Despite the projection of yoga as “secular”, NBCC said it is deeply rooted in the beliefs and practices of Hinduism.While it is not against any religion, mediation in any form, philosophical thinking and transcendental meditation tied to any religion, is “viewed with seriousness by the church’’, the council said.The NBCC discouraged students from attending such events and asked the Centre to desist from making yoga compulsory.It urged the state government to refrain from forcing its institutions, including schools and colleges, from organizing or participating in the programme.In a message on the eve of the International Day of Yoga, Nagaland and Assam governor P B Acharya said the world has finally recognized the importance of yoga in ensuring a sound mind and a healthy body.He termed it as a “victory for our ancient saint Patanjali”.The governor appealed to schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, student organizations, trade unions and members of the public to participate in the International Day of Yoga celebrations on Sunday.