Observance of the 11th International Day of Yoga at Astha Path, Rishikesh

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  Mr. Arora explaining about corneal donation

  

  Mr. Arora highlighting the need for organ donation

  

  Participants celebrating the harmony of yoga and organ health through every breath and posture

  

  Post-session picture of the participants

  To mark the 11th International Day of Yoga, MOHAN Foundation was invited to participate in a special yoga session organized by the Lions Club Rishikesh Devbhoomi at Astha Path, Rishikesh. The event was held on the serene banks of the sacred Ganges, a setting that beautifully reflected the spirit of harmony, well-being, and mindfulness. Mr. Sanchit Arora, Project Leader at MOHAN Foundation, currently stationed at AIIMS Rishikesh, represented the Foundation at this occasion.

   

  The event commenced with the Yoga Anthem, followed by a 40-minute guided yoga session led by trained instructors. The proceedings were led by Mr. Gopal Narang, Charter President of the Lions Club Devbhoomi Rishikesh. The session brought together yoga enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds, united in the celebration of holistic health.

   

  This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” highlighted the deep interconnectedness between personal well-being and planetary health. In line with this theme, Mr. Sanchit Arora conducted an awareness session that drew meaningful connections between the ancient discipline of yoga and the life-saving cause of organ donation.

   

  Mr. Arora emphasized that just as yoga nurtures and strengthens the body, mind, and spirit, organ donation offers the gift of life and healing. A healthy lifestyle, supported by yogic practices such as breath control (pranayama), physical postures (asanas), and mindfulness (dhyana), enhances overall organ health and can aid recovery in both donors and recipients.

   

  Drawing from Indian philosophical traditions, Mr. Arora invoked the concepts of Nishkaam Karma (selfless action) and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), presenting organ donation as a noble, selfless act. He also referenced Hindu mythology to illustrate these values—citing the story of Lord Ganesha, whose life was restored through a symbolic act of transplantation, and Maharishi Dadhichi, who donated his bones for the creation of the divine weapon Vajra—one of the earliest known examples of body donation in Indian scriptures.

   

  The awareness session covered a wide range of topics, including:

  • The importance and significance of organ donation

  • Eligibility for becoming an organ donor

  • Differences between living and deceased donors

  • Organ donation during life and after death

  • Understanding brain death versus coma

  • Eye and skin donation, including corneal preservation

  • The Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994

  • Whole body donation

  • Living kidney transplantation services at AIIMS Rishikesh

  • Myths versus facts related to organ donation

  • Ways individuals can support the cause

   

  The session was highly interactive, with participants asking several insightful questions, such as:

  • Can pledged organs be directed to Hindu recipients?

  • Is hand transplantation possible, and what does the procedure involve?

  • Can individuals who have undergone cataract surgery donate their eyes?

  • Who should be contacted for eye donation if someone dies at home?

  • Is organ selling legal in India?

   

  The session concluded with a powerful message:

  “Let’s pledge to wellness—and to life beyond life.”

   

  Approximately 50 participants attended the event, making it a meaningful and impactful initiative that helped spread the message of organ donation more deeply within the local community.

   

  
  
  Source-Mr. Sanchit Arora