Mumbai's Anjuman-I-Islam' organises Yoga camp, Muslim students say it's beneficial during Ramzan fasting

New Delhi: Amid an ongoing controversy over 'Suryanamaskar' and chanting 'Om' on International Yoga Day, a noted educational conglomerate and social organisation Anjuman-I-Islam has organised a yoga camp in one of its schools in Mumbai.

As per reports, students of Anjuman-e-Islam have been practicing Yoga for thirty minutes every day, asserting that it is not associated to any religion and should be practiced by everyone.

Amira, a student of Anjuman e Islam said, “Yoga is very beneficial for health, especially during Ramzan, everyone must practice it.”

Mallick Husseinbai, the Physical Health instructor of the school asserted that the students were greatly benefitting from practicing Yoga adding that the children were given to chant or nor chant the 'omkar' mantra if they wanted to.

Anjuman-I-Islam, Mumbai was founded in the year 1874 by a small group of devout and progressive Muslims lead by none other than Dr Badruddin Tyabji, Third President of Indian National Congress and the First Acting Indian Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, with a ‘desire to see the Muslim Community advance in education and social standing’.

Last week Ayush Minister Shripad Naik made it clear that 'Suryanamaskar asana' will not be part of this year's Yoga Day celebrations and chanting of 'Om' won't be compulsory even though Yoga is incomplete without it.

There has been a controversy over this 'Suryanamaskar asana', with Muslim groups saying their faith does not allow such a practice.

The International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 since last year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking a lead in this.

Chanting of 'Om' has also been a matter of controversy, with Muslim bodies saying members of their faith cannot do so.

There was a controversy recently too over the UGC's directive asking universities and colleges to follow Ayush ministry's yoga protocol that begins with chanting of 'Om' and some Sanskrit shlokas during Yoga Day celebrations on June 21.

The government, however, had insisted that last year's protocol has been maintained and no changes have been made. "There is no compulsion to chant 'Om'," it had earlier said.