Silchar, June 20: Church leaders in Mizoram today urged Christians not to practise yoga, saying the system of exercises was related to "Hinduism".

The call comes a day before International Yoga Day will be celebrated across the country.

Reverend R. Lalrinsanga, secretary of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee, an umbrella organisation of 15 Churches in the state, confirmed the appeal made to Christians not to practise yoga. Some 87 per cent of Mizoram's population is Christian.

"All of us know that yoga is associated with Hindu philosophy and thus it cannot be accepted. Yoga goes against the teachings and philosophy of Christianity," he told The Telegraph.

Mizoram's ayush department plans to celebrate International Yoga Day in a "grand way" tomorrow in collaboration with the Assam Rifles.

Asked if the Church was opposed to the Yoga Day celebrations, Rev. Lalrinsanga said: "We are not against the celebration of Yoga Day. We are also not opposing the propagation of yoga by the state government, which is a secular institution. Our request is to the people belonging to Christianity to refrain from practising yoga."

He clarified that unlike last year, the Church would not "boycott" Yoga Day but was only issuing an "appeal" to Christians not to do yoga.

"We are not asking people not to take part in Yoga Day celebrations this time. Last year, we had called for a boycott as International Yoga Day had fallen on a Sunday, which is a sacred day in Christianity."

C. Lallunghnema, chief executive officer at the state ayush department, denied that yoga was a part of Hinduism. He said yoga had been practised for ages to keep one's body and mind healthy and lacked any religious connotations.

He said Yoga Day events would be held in almost all the state's districts tomorrow. "We are hopeful that people will come out and join the yoga sessions."

Lalruatkina, general secretary of the Mizo National Front, the main Opposition in the state, said his party was "not against" the Yoga Day celebrations.

State Congress media department secretary David Thangliana, however, said: "Our party has not taken any decision on it and, therefore, I can't comment on it."

Mizoram governor Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma will be the chief guest at the programme in Aizawl, which is to begin at 6am.

The Society for Propagation of Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Yoga (Spany), which works under the department of ayush and provides physical and stress management training, had organised a month-long yoga training workshop in Aizawl from May 21.

Another yoga workshop was held in Aizawl last week.

Jibe at Mother

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