Photo Courtesy: nenow
Kohima: The Nagaland government has officially postponed the observance of the International Day of Yoga in educational institutions to June 22. The decision follows intense pressure from church groups, tribal organizations, and student bodies that objected to holding the event on a Sunday.
Initially, the School Education Department had mandated that both private and government schools organize programmes on June 21, requiring staff and student participation alongside GPS-tagged photographic evidence. This directive sparked immediate pushback from groups like the Naga Students Federation, which argued that Sunday is a sacred day of worship for the state's predominantly Christian population.
Other entities, including the Central Nagaland Tribes Council, echoed these concerns, stating that schools should not be forced to engage in activities that potentially conflict with local faith. The Nagaland Baptist Pastors’ Union also weighed in, claiming that yoga is rooted in traditions incompatible with Christian beliefs. The union urged institutions to abstain from the observance, noting that "yoga is rooted in religious and philosophical traditions incompatible with Christian beliefs."
The state government ultimately bowed to the growing criticism by issuing a revised order. Despite the shift for schools, several Central government offices, security forces, and other independent organizations proceeded with their Yoga Day celebrations on Sunday as part of the nationwide schedule.
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