Surya Namaskar (Salutations to the Sun) is devoted to the worship the provider of energy and intellect, the Sun God, who is the centre of our Universe. The nation had practiced the yogic art since ages.

The Madhya Pradesh education department is gearing up to take place in the world book of records by conducting maximum number of participants in the `Surya Namaskar,’ today on account of Swami Vivekananda Jayanti. India is gearing up with pride to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, born on 12 January 1863.  But some Muslim leaders have issued Fatwa on the yogic trait and said it was equal to idol worship. The minority group leaders have called it as un-Islamic. The fatwa was ratified by the Shahar Qazi, Sayyed Mushtaq Ali Nadvi on Tuesday.

But Directives have been issued to all the government and government-aided schools to ensure maximum participation in the exercise so that it can become a world record. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has clarified that the participation in the exercise is not compulsory.

State School Education Minister, Archana Chitnis told reporters, "Surya Namaskar is a Yogic exercise aimed at improving one's health and those not interested in taking part in it have an option to stay away from it. Sun is neither saffron nor green." However, Muslim leaders have termed the move as an attempt to saffronise the education system.