AMU Celebrates International Day of Yoga with Enthusiastic Participation

Prof Naima Khatoon with Prof Mohd Mohsin Khan, Prof Aasim Zafar and Prof M Athar Ansari distributing the certificate on the occasion of International Yoga Day

ALIGARH, June 21:Bathed in the spirit of wellness and collective harmony, Aligarh Muslim University marked the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY-2026) with vibrant enthusiasm at the Department of Physical Education. The celebration, themed Yoga for Healthy Ageing, brought together more than 800 students, faculty members, officers, employees, and yoga enthusiasts in a shared pursuit of health, mindfulness, and well-being.

AMU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon, the Chief Guest, lauded the Department of Physical Education for organizing the event and emphasized that yoga is a holistic discipline that promotes harmony between the body, mind, and spirit. Sharing her personal experiences, she highlighted the role of yoga in enhancing health, emotional resilience, and overall well-being, and underscored the relevance of the year's theme in encouraging preventive healthcare and healthy lifestyles.

The programme was organized under the patronage of the Vice-Chancellor, with Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mohd. Mohsin Khan serving as Co-Patron. Registrar Prof. Aasim Zafar was the Convenor, while Prof. Ikram Hussain, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chairperson, Department of Physical Education, and Nodal Officer for IDY-2026, led the overall coordination. Prof. Brij Bhushan Singh coordinated the event and led the mass demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol.

Welcoming the participants, Prof. Ikram Hussain highlighted the global significance of the International Day of Yoga and stressed the importance of adopting yoga as a way of life for physical fitness, mental well-being, and social harmony.

A major attraction of the programme was the collective performance of the Common Yoga Protocol by participants under the guidance of trained instructors, creating an atmosphere of unity, discipline, and wellness.

On the occasion, Prof. Naima Khatoon distributed prizes and certificates to winners of the Poster Presentation and Essay Writing Competitions organized as part of the Yoga Day celebrations. At the university level, AfifaWaheed Ansari, Adnan Khan and Shikhar Bhadauria secured the first, second and third positions, respectively, in the poster competition. At the school level, Anamta Khan won first prize, while Ehtisham Ali and Yasmeen secured second and third prizes. In the essay competition, Yasmeen Rehman stood first, Johar Raza second, and Ayesha Fatima third. Certificates were also awarded to participants who successfully completed the seven-day Yoga Workshop conducted from June 14 to 20.

Among those present were Dean Students' Welfare Prof. M. Athar Ansari, Proctor Prof. Mohammad Naved Khan, University Librarian Prof. Nishat Fatima, Coordinator CEC Prof. Mohammad Rizwan Khan, Principal Dr. ZA Dental College, Prof ND Gupta, MIC Land and Gardens Prof. Anwar Shahzad, MIC Public Relations Office Prof. Vibha Sharma, University Health Officer, Dr. Ali Jafar Abedi, Deputy Proctor Prof. Iffat Asghar, and Public Relations Officer Mr. Omar Peerzada.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Mohd. Arshad Bari. The successful observance of International Day of Yoga reaffirmed AMU's commitment to promoting wellness, mindfulness, and healthy living among its academic community and society at large.