Yoga Day celebrations in Delhi.

Key Highlights Mizoram observed Yoga Day despite church bodies distancing itself from the event

MKHC, a conglomerate of 13 major churches, had urged its members to refrain from practising yoga

The members fear that yoga might be used to convert Christians

AIZAWL: Christian-dominated Mizoram observed Yoga Day for the first time on Tuesday despite church bodies distancing itself from the event. The event took place in the Assam Rifles grounds in Aizawl. More than 1,000 yoga enthusiasts took part in the celebrations despite early morning showers.

Governor Lt. Gen. Nirbhay Sharma, who was the chief guest at the function, brushed aside the churches’ concerns about yoga being part of Hindu philosophy and said the celebrations would also boost the state's Healthy Mizoram campaign.

Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomerate of 13 major churches, had urged its members to refrain from practising yoga. While the churches did not object to the government propagating yoga, they described the practice as something that could dilute the doctrine of Christianity. An MKHC meeting on June 2 had resolved “yoga exercises may heal some illnesses, but Christians cannot use it to replace the eternal healing of Christ.”

Members had also expressed fear that yoga might be used to convert Christians. The Presbyterian Church’s Mizoram Synod had also warned its members against practising yoga, saying it was based on Hindu philosophy and could never be practised by ‘good’ Christians.

