Mass 'Surya Namaskar, Pranayam' sessions held in MP schools; CM Shivraj Singh, ministers attend

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BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended 'Surya Namaskar' and 'Pranayam' sessions held here to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on Friday. 

The state-level Surya Namaskar program at Lal Parade ground in the city at 9:00 am today, was also attended by Chief Minister's cabinet colleagues Vijay Shah, Deepak Joshi and Alok Sharma. 

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attends 'Surya Namaskar' programme in Lal Parade ground held to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda #NationalYouthDay pic.twitter.com/gx4WiSAIG7

— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2018

On Thursday, the Madhya Pradesh government had issued a release directing all educational institutions in the state to hold the 'Surya Namaskar' and 'Pranayam' sessions to mark the birth anniversary of Vivekananda.

However, the release issued to educational institutions made it clear that participation in the Surya Namaskar or sun salutations would not be mandatory. "Surya Namaskar and Pranayam will be performed in all academic institutions from 9:00 am tomorrow," the government press release said on Thursday. Students from all schools in Bhopal would participate in the program, the release said.

The clarification of 'voluntary participation' from the state government comes following several controversies linked with such events in the past. 

"Surya-Namaskar will be held in all schools, colleges, academic institutions, gram panchayats and residential schools of the state from 9:00 am to 10.30 am on January 12," a Public Relations department officials said.

"On the occasion, inspirational academic and cultural programmes focusing on the life of Swami Vivekananda will be organised. Participants have been asked to gather at 9:00 am. A committee under the chairmanship of district collector has been constituted to conduct this programme in their respective districts," he added. "Students from class VI to XII and college students would perform these 'asans', while pupils from class I to V will only witness it." 

He said the arrangement of the direct broadcast of this programme through radio has also been made.