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Key Highlights
- In Surya Namaskar, eight asanas are performed in 12 steps with coordination of the body and mind
- ‘Surya Namaskar’ is best performed in the morning
- “Surya Namaskar is unconstitutional and is false patriotism as minority in the country do not believe in idol worship,” said AIMPLB’s Khalid Saifullah Rahmani
New Delhi: The Ministry of AYUSH is planning a Surya Namaskar demonstration programme for 75 lakh people globally on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, which falls on January 14. There will also be participation from other ministries of the government.
According to an AYUSH Ministry statement, Surya Namaskar is offered as a salutation to the Sun on this day to show gratitude for the sun’s rays that nurture all life.
Surya Namaskar has been scientifically known to develop immunity and boost vitality, which is particularly important during the time of pandemic.
Union Minister of AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal said: “Enhancing immunity level among citizens has become the need of the hour as COVID-19 cases are rising. The ministry aims to encourage more and more people to perform Surya Namaskar that helps in strengthening not only the body, but also the mind.”
During the pandemic period, the ministry will once again play a crucial role in popularizing yoga, ayurveda, homeopathy, siddha, naturopathy, and unani systems of medicine as a way to boost natural immunity in people, added Sonowal.
As noted by the ministry, direct exposure to the sun provides the human body with Vitamin D, which is widely recommended by so many medical branches.
Messages about climate change and global warming are also intended to be conveyed during the mass Surya Namaskar demonstration, according to the statement.
In Surya Namaskar, eight postures are performed in 12 steps with coordination of the body and mind. The practice is best performed in the morning.
It may be recalled that the Ministry of Education, Government of India informed in letter No F No 12-5/2020-IS-4 dated December 16, 2021, that “the National Yogasana sports Federation under the banner of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav has decided to run a project of 750 million Surya Namaskar from 01 Jan 2022 to 07 Feb 2022. Musical performance on Surya Namaskar is also planned on 26 January 2022”.
Earlier this month, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board expressed its opposition to the proposed ‘Surya Namaskar’ in the ongoing program ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, and has requested that Muslim students not participate in this event.
Gulam Rasool Balyawi, the Muslim face of Janata Dal (United) in Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar MLC, on January 08 triggered a controversy by refusing to perform Surya Namaskar saying Allah has “given birth” to the Sun.
“In Islam, we worship only Allah. The followers of Allah and Islam cannot worship any other God that Allah has created. We worship the one who gives birth and not who are born,” Balyawi said.
According to him, Surya Namaskar is meant to worship the Sun, something that a Muslim would never do.