International Yoga Day was organized at various places in Ranchi on 21 June 2024 under the joint aegis of Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Morabadi, Ranchi, Divyayan Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, and Indian Yoga Association, Jharkhand Chapter. The program was formally started at 6:45 am in Kanke Dam Park, Kanke, Ranchi, with Vedic chanting in the presence of Ashrama Secretary Swami Bhaveshananda and Principal of Marwari College, Ranchi, Mr. Manoj Kumar. Along with this, the Common Yoga Protocol given by the Government of India was practiced simultaneously at 46 places in Ranchi. At the same time, yoga was practiced at Vivekananda Sarovar, located right in the middle of Ranchi city, in the presence of Swami Sukhmayananda, a monk of the Ashrama, and Mr. Amit Kumar, Administrator of Ranchi Municipal Corporation, as a guest. On this occasion, the Secretary of the Ashrama, emphasizing the usefulness of yoga, said that people of all age groups can do it, and he called upon everyone to do yoga. While the administrator, wishing Happy Yoga Day, appealed to the people to practice yoga. On this occasion, Sharp Sight Eye Hospital, Lalpur, Ranchi, arranged breakfast for participants. The total number of yoga practitioners present at all the places was about 2800.
The afternoon session was held in the Ashrama Auditorium. This special program was based on ‘Yoga for self and society’. 300 people, including Chief Guest Shri Achyut Ghatak, Director, C.M.P.D.I.L., and Special Guest Shri Jagannath Chakravarty, attended the program.
The program was formally started by lighting the lamp with Vedic chanting. Swamiji’s Vaani Paath and Swadesh Mantra Path were done. Swami Antarananda ji, Asst.-Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, while welcoming the guests, said that yoga does not mean only physical exercise; it is a sadhana which keeps us completely balanced. He inspired everyone to make yoga as part of their lifestyle.
To give detailed information on the subject, Yoga Sadhika Ms. Pragya Bharti made everyone aware of the importance of yoga for the development of self as well as society. She called yoga the best way to balance the mind and brain. She said that we can cooperate in the development of society by purifying our conscience through yoga.
Chief guest, Shri Achyut Ghatak ji, while remembering Swami ji, said that Swami Vivekanand ji was the only great man in this world who had seen the form of Brahma. He especially highlighted the nation-building through Swamiji’s words and character-building. He described yoga as a means of achieving success. Swami Bhaveshananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, in his presidential speech, especially highlighted the aim of the ashram, ‘AtmanoMokshartham, JagatHitaya Cha’ i.e., ‘the welfare of the world along with self-salvation’. He said that Swami Vivekanand ji is the first person from India who established Indian yoga in western countries. Defining yoga, he said that the union of mind is yoga. Willpower and self-confidence develop with the restraint of mind, through which we can develop society.
In the end, all those who passed in the various state-level yoga competitions going on for 30 days were awarded. The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri Amit Kumar ji, who is the Secretary of the Indian Yoga Association, Jharkhand Chapter. The program was conducted by psychologist Dr. Anuradha Wats.
