Silchar, June 20: Church leaders in Mizoram today urged Christians to refrain from practising yoga as it is related to "Hinduism".

The call comes a day ahead of International Yoga Day which will be celebrated across the country tomorrow.

Reverend R. Lalrinsanga, the secretary of Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee, an umbrella organisation of 15 major churches of the state, told The Telegraph that they had urged the people not to practice yoga as it is not a part of Christianity and can dilute its doctrine. "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."

Mizoram's Ayush department plans to celebrate International Yoga Day in a "grand way" tomorrow in collaboration with 29 Assam Rifles. C. Lallunghnema, chief executive officer of Ayush, Mizoram, told this correspondent that there would be a huge function at the Assam Rifles Ground in Aizawl.

Asked if they were 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 they were not boycotting yoga day like last year. "We are not asking people not to take part in yoga day celebration this time. Last year, we had called for a boycott as International Yoga Day fell on Sunday, which is a sacred day in Christianity."

Lallunghnema, however, dismissed the contention that yoga is a part of Hinduism. He said it has been practised for ages to keep one's body and mind healthy and did not have any religious connotation. He said programmes would be held in almost all the districts tomorrow to mark yoga day. "We are hopeful that people will come out and join the yoga sessions," he added.

Mizoram governor Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma will be the chief guest at the Aizawl programme which will 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 to impart skills and techniques to the people. A yoga workshop was also held at Bungkawn in Aizawl last week under the leadership of Bijoy Laxmi Hota, Spany leader and an international yoga therapist. Hota will participate in tomorrow's celebrations in the Mizoram capital.

Sources in the Mizoram Ayush department said a host of state police personnel were given training in yoga and asked to impart the skills to their fellow colleagues.

Lalruatkina, general secretary of Mizo National Front, the main Opposition party of the state, said the MNF was "not against" the yoga day celebration.

PCC media department secretary David Thangliana, however, declined to comment, saying, "Our party has not taken any decision on it and, therefore, I can't comment on it."