Mizoram on June 21 declined to bend and stretch along with the world on the International Day of Yoga. The reason being that many in the Christian-majority State see the ancient Indian form of exercise as being “dipped in Hinduism”.

Officials in Aizawl said celebrations were not held due to religious sentiments.

Apart from the Assam Rifles, which observed the day at its ground in Aizawl, the Congress government did not organise any official programme. No Ministers, MLAs or officials attended the programme, while Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla was said to be busy with his grandson’s marriage.

Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan too did not take part in the celebration as he was away, Raj Bhavan officials said. (Mr. Rajasekharan took part in an event at Thiruvananthapuram.)

Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Zodintluanga, played down the lack of enthusiasm on the part of the government. “I am tied up with rescue and relief work in my flood-affected constituency,” he said.

Public opinions in Mizoram are often moulded by the powerful church, which said in 2015 – after the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga – that yogic exercises were not compatible with Mizo and Christian belief.

Yoga virtually became untouchable after the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee, a conglomerate of 15 major churches, boycotted celebrations associated with any form of exercise “dipped in Hinduism”.