Aligarh, Jun 21 (IANS): The week-long yoga day celebrations in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) ended on Friday with a mass yoga exercise session.

The event was marked with massive awareness campaigns, seminars on the health benefits of the Vedic-era practice and grand yoga group events at the university.

Addressing over 500 yoga enthusiasts, the Chief Guest, AMU Vice Chancellor Professor Tariq Mansoor, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been instrumental in advocating the practice of yoga in India and acquainting the world with its far-reaching health benefits.

"A brainchild of Prime Minister-led dispensation, India pushed for International Day of Yoga on the global platform and as a result, the United Nations recognized it as an international event to be celebrated on 21 June every year," said Mansoor.

Urging people to make yoga a part of their daily life, the Vice-Chancellor said, "Peace and harmony are related to yoga. People across the world must practice it."

Pointing out that yoga is above religion, Mansoor said: "Yoga is an integrated system of self-transformation with spiritual enlightenment as the ultimate goal, but it also gives other benefits as well," he elaborated adding that regular yoga heals mental and physical ailments.

"I do yoga regularly as it reduces the risk of injury and soothes the mind and lowers stress levels," said Mansoor.

Attending the programme as the Guest of Honour Professor Akbar Husain (Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences) said, "Yoga can be broadly defined as the systematic effort made by man to the development of youthfulness and good health through physical and mental exercises."

He added that yoga is not only a popular activity around the world but also a very much sought out research topic.