10K gather at Shiva Dol to mark yoga day countdown

Dibrugarh: The ministry of Ayush with support from the Assam government organised a “Yoga Utsav” at the iconic holy site of Shiva Dol at Sivasagar in upper Assam on Monday to mark the 50-day countdown to the International Day of Yoga.
The event, conducted by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under the Ministry of Ayush, saw participation of over 10,000 yoga enthusiasts from all the northeastern states. The event was simultaneously held at seven historic locations of Sivasagar district, including Thowra Dol, Rudrasagar Dol, Ranghar, Tolatol ghar, Kareng Ghar and Joydol, all places of historic importance, within the periphery of Sivasagar town.
The event was aimed at creating awareness about yoga and its ability to enrich human lives. The Utsav, whose theme was “Make Yoga a part of Your Life”, was attended by dignitaries, students, government officials.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways & AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal, Union minister of state for Women & Child and AYUSH Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, Union minister of state for petroleum & natural gas Rameswar Teli, state health minister Keshab Mahanta and several ministers from other states attended the event.
Sonowal said, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yoga has got the necessary platform that has helped build the image of brand India. As thousands of people from all the northeastern states came together on this pious land in the beautiful town Sivasagar to perform yoga, it reinforces our sustained effort to put the iconic heritage sites of Assam in the world tourism map through this event today... The idea behind the Utsav is to encourage people to take up yoga... so that they can enrich their quality of life.”
Sivasagar has been selected for the Yoga Utsav as the PM had unveiled a plan to develop five archaeological sites such as Rakhigari (Haryana), Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh), Sivasagar (Assam), Dholavira (Gujarat) and Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu)) into “iconic” sites across India.