Indian mountaineers perform yoga on Europe's highest peak
Darjeeling: A Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) expedition successfully reached the summit of the highest peak of Europe on August 15 and fluttered the Indian tricolor.
They also performed various yogic Asanas (postures) atop the mountain and will now try for getting the act (yoga) declared as a world record.
The eight-member team scaled Mount Elbrus (5,642 meters) at 8:45 am on August 15. Leader of the expedition and principal of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Jaikishan told the Millennium Post: "We then unfurled the Indian National flag and other flags and then went onto to perform the yogic asanas."
From 9:25 am to 10:00 am the team HMI performed Asanas at the summit to the yogic chants of Sadguru, Adi Yogi mantras.
It was quite a task owing to the high altitude, heavy equipment, boots and oxygen cylinders. "We will try in the Guinness book, World Records Academy and the Limca Book of Records, Yoga at this altitude," stated Group Captain Jaikishan.
The HMI team also performed yoga at different altitudes while descending with the final act at the base camp (4100m) where many foreign climbers joined in.
The HMI team comprised of Group Captain Jaikishan, Subedar Devi Singh (Dy leader) and instructors Havildar Pankaj Kumar, Roshan Ghatraj, Aditya Gurung, Passang Tenzing Sherpa and Umang Mukhia.
The expedition was flagged off from Delhi by Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Yesso Naik on August 6.
"This expedition is also a part of our vision to climb the highest mountains in the 7 continents," stated the expedition leader.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute teams have already successfully summited Mount Everest (2003, 2012) and Mount Aconcagua (6,962 m) located in Argentina, South America in 1999.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute was established on November 4, 1954 — a result of personal initiative of Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru the first Prime Minister of India and Dr. BC Roy the then Chief Minister of West Bengal to promote mountaineering in India.
Legendary mountaineers, including Late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Late Nawang Gombu have been associated with this institute.
