Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has called for transforming the state’s rich traditions of yoga and meditation into a mass movement, urging citizens to embrace these ancient practices for a healthier and more balanced society. Speaking at a state‑level World Meditation Day event at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, which also doubled as the first convocation of the Gujarat State Yoga Board’s certified yoga coaches and trainers, he described yoga as a pathway to physical strength and meditation as a tool for sharper mental focus and inner peace.
World Meditation Day event at Mahatma Mandir
The celebration, organised jointly by the Gujarat State Yoga Board and the Himalayan Samarpan Meditation Trust, drew thousands of participants, including students, trainers, public representatives and spiritual leaders. A collective meditation session was led by Himalayan Samarpan founder Shivkrupanand Swamiji, giving attendees a guided experience of mindfulness, calm and spiritual connection in a large hall designed to highlight silence and introspection over spectacle.
Patel highlighted that December 21, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, has been recognised by the United Nations as World Meditation Day to underline the importance of mental balance in an increasingly stressful world. Gujarat’s decision to pair the observance with a formal convocation, he said, signals the state’s intent to institutionalise yoga education and spread meditation practices from select centres to ordinary households.
Yoga coaches and trainers formally inducted
During the programme, the Chief Minister presented certificates to newly qualified yoga coaches and trainers who completed courses under the Gujarat State Yoga Board. He congratulated them for choosing a path of service that focuses on preventive healthcare, lifestyle discipline and mental wellness rather than only curative medicine.
Chairman of the Yoga Board Shishpal Rajput outlined how the board has been conducting training programmes, workshops and outreach initiatives to embed yoga into schools, colleges, workplaces and community centres across the state. According to him, the formal induction of this first batch of certified trainers will help standardise teaching quality and ensure that scientific, evidence‑based approaches guide public yoga and meditation sessions.
CM’s message on health, focus and inner peace
In his address, Patel said that regular yoga practice strengthens muscles, improves flexibility and supports immunity, while meditation enhances concentration, decision‑making and emotional stability without any cost or side effects. He pointed out that in a competitive era dominated by screens, long working hours and information overload, these practices can act as accessible tools for everyone—from students preparing for exams to professionals managing high‑pressure jobs.
Calling meditation a “blessing rooted in India’s ancient tradition,” Patel also linked it to India’s role as a global spiritual guide, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for International Day of Yoga has already taken Indian wellness philosophy to audiences worldwide. He said the goal of Viksit Bharat@2047 requires not just economic growth but also a mentally resilient, disease‑free population, something that can be supported through widespread adoption of yoga and meditation.
Towards a mass movement for wellness
The Chief Minister urged citizens, institutions and civil‑society groups to treat yoga and meditation as community responsibilities rather than individual hobbies. Schools and colleges were encouraged to include structured sessions in their timetables, workplaces were asked to consider short daily meditation breaks, and local bodies were invited to host open‑air yoga events in parks and public squares. For in-depth report read here.
Patel’s message resonated with many participants who see rising lifestyle diseases, anxiety and burnout as pressing challenges in urban and semi‑urban Gujarat. By framing yoga and meditation as inclusive, low‑cost solutions that require no special equipment or fees, the state hopes to gradually convert World Meditation Day from an annual event into a year‑round people’s movement focused on holistic well‑being.
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