Army personnel perform Yoga in world's highest battlefield Siachen

The second International Day of Yoga was celebrated by Army's Fire and Fury Corps today at the Siachen Glacier, along with several other high-altitude forward locations in Leh and Kargil.

Apart from giving an impetus to physical fitness, the event also spread awareness on benefits of Yoga amongst the soldiers.

The Indian Army has incorporated Yoga Asanas into the daily routine of the soldier in High Altitude Areas deployed in harsh climatic conditions.

Practice of Yoga by soldiers in such an environment helps them to combat various diseases such as high altitude sickness, hypoxia, pulmonary odema and the psychological stresses of isolation and fatigue.

The respiratory adaptations of Pranayama help the soldiers to better adapt to the low oxygen environment in High Altitude Areas.

The main event to commemorate the Yoga Day was held at the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh which witnessed the participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Punjab and Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar besides others.

Addressing the International Yoga Day celebrations in Chandigarh this morning, Prime Minister Modi said yoga provides health assurance with zero spending.

He said yoga has become a people's mass movement, adding the people in all parts of the nation have been connected to yoga.

June 21 was declared as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2014.

Over 190 countries, including 40 Islamic nations, supported the move to have a special day for yoga.