New Delhi: The Indian Navy on Wednesday said it will launch multiple initiatives to introduce the practice of Yoga to its community on the first International Yoga Day on June 21.

Yoga day will be observed by the Navy units located at distant places as well as on the sea.

"The Navy will observe the first International Day of Yoga and celebrate the richness of Indian culture through a unique endeavour that only it can - Yoga across the oceans," the Navy`s official statement said.

The statement said the naval community has been sensitised to the conduct and significance of the first International Day of Yoga through a message relayed widely to units at dispersed geographical positions in India and overseas.

"Accordingly, Indian Navy units located as far as the Mediterranean Sea on the west, the Western Pacific Ocean on the east and the Southern Indian Ocean in the south will participate in observing the occasion," the statement said.

"Widely dispersed ships of the Navy will conduct Yoga sessions that commence at the pre-decided local time of 7.00 a.m. (the exact time at which the occasion will be observed at Rajpath, New Delhi), such that as the sun moves across time zones in its passage from the Pacific Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, it will find personnel of the Indian Navy greeting it successively with their asanas across a vast geographical swath," the statement said.

The statement added that events have been planned at all naval units, including Navy schools, community facilities and welfare centres. These will comprise mass participation of personnel in basic asanas, which will be followed by qualified Yoga instructors expounding to the community on the long-term benefits of Yoga.

Handouts with descriptions of basic Yogasanas derived from the document "Common Yoga Protocol" issued by the government will also be distributed in large numbers.

To encourage children of all ages to be part of the event, painting and essay writing competitions are being organised at all naval schools.