Photo Courtesy: nenews
Kohima: The Nagaland government has officially rescheduled its International Day of Yoga programme to June 22. This decision follows intense pressure from church groups, student unions, tribal councils, and political parties who criticized the original plan to host the event on a Sunday.
The state's School Education Department issued a revised directive instructing educational institutions to conduct their activities on Monday instead of June 21. This reversal addresses public outcry against an initial mandate that required both private and government schools to hold yoga events and submit GPS-tagged photo evidence of participation.
Critics argued that the state failed to respect the religious sentiments of Nagaland's predominantly Christian population. The Naga Students Federation led early opposition, labeling the mandate as insensitive to the community's day of worship. The federation argued that the directive infringed upon constitutional rights and personal religious freedom.
Similar concerns were raised by the Central Nagaland Tribes Council, which stated that institutions should not be forced to participate in activities that conflict with the faith of the majority. The Nagaland Baptist Pastors Union also voiced formal opposition, citing theological concerns. They stated that yoga is rooted in religious and philosophical traditions that are "incompatible with Christian doctrine" and urged local institutions to boycott the event.
While the state government bowed to the pressure and shifted its official schedule, several security agencies and Central government offices proceeded with their Yoga Day activities on Sunday as part of the nationwide celebration.
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