Chief Minister, Prem Singh Tamang, on March 13 proposed the establishment of the National Yoga and Meditation Institute at Gurudongmar, North Sikkim during the inaugural ceremony of Yoga Mahotsav 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said “To relocate yoga in the serene environment and decent climate of the mountains we therefore propose the establishment of the National Yoga and Meditation Institute at the highland vicinity of Gurudongmar Lake in North Sikkim.”
On the proposed institution CM Tamang said the Institution would be a “Global Institution” that would impart knowledge about the importance of yoga in the conversation of nature, mountain, resources and India’s contribution to climate change, discourses and mitigation.
The proposed Institute would be an extended program of the Morarji Desai Yoga Institute supported by pioneer institute for Yoga practices like Parmarth Niketan headed by Swami Chidanand Saraswati.
Lake Gurudongmar is among one of the most pristine lakes in Sikkim situated in the north district of Sikkim and sits in the close proximity to the Tibetan and Chinese border. At an elevation of 17,000 ft above sea level, Gurudongmar lake lies in the north side of the Khangchengyao Range and is enclosed all around by snow secured mountains.
During his address the Chief Minister appraised the gathering about the practices of Yoga in Sikkim since four centuries ago. “In Sikkim yoga has been a part of our historic cultural existence and a magnificent aspect of its religious philosophy that brings together Hinduism, Buddhism and other vibrant religions that we have followed and practiced during the last four centuries” said CM Tamang
Furthermore, Chief Minister Tamang also congratulated the efforts of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in propagating and creating the awareness on the benefits of yoga in the world stage. “This journey of yoga has come a long way under the dynamic leadership of PM Narendra Modiji” he said “under his leadership the health facilities of Ayush has spread far and wide including our state Sikkim”.
While presenting the state of yoga in Sikkim the Chief Minster spoke about the inclusion of yoga in the school curriculum of education in Sikkim where he said that “more than five hundred teachers trained by Patanjali Yogpeeth” are imparting the knowledge, wisdom and aesthetic practices of yoga in all the schools of Sikkim.
The Inauguration Ceremony of Yoga Mahotsav 2022 was held on March 13 2022, in the Vigyan Bhawan of New Delhi to commemorate the 100 days countdown to International Day of Yoga 2022. The event had the presence of the Union Minister, Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Labour and Employment, Environment and Forest Minister, Bhupendra Yadav, Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, Minister for state external affairs and culture, Meenakshi Lekhi along with other dignitaries. The state delegation from Sikkim along with the Chief Minister also included cabinet minister, BS Panth.