New Delhi: The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) has clarified that chanting of 'Om' and other Vedic mantras before the yoga session on International Yoga Day (June 21) is not compulsory but voluntary.
"There is no compulsion to chant 'Om' before the yoga session. It is completely voluntary and one can remain silent. No one will object," AYUSH Ministry Joint Secretary Anil Kumar Ganeriwala said on Tuesday.
Ganeriwala's statement comes after reports of the Central government's circular that proposed chanting of 'Om' and recitation of some Vedic mantras before the 45-minute yoga session on International Yoga Day.
In a letter to all heads of higher institutions, the University Grants Commission has asked for their ‘personal indulgence’ to ensure the protocol has been followed during the events held on their respective campuses on June 21.
Calling media reports in this regard as an attempt to make International Yoga Day controversial, he said that though chanting of 'Om' is an integral part of yoga, there is no norm to make it compulsory.
Ganeriwala said that as part of changes, the AYUSH Ministry has added one new asana in the programme and extended the time of Dhyan Pranayam by 10 minutes.
This year’s International Yoga Day celebrations will be hosted by Chandigarh, with the Centre deciding to shift the venue from Delhi. The United Nations had announced the International Yoga Day in 2014 after 191 nations voted in favour of the initiative taken by India.
