THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government’s celebrations marking the International Yoga Day on Thursday were inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Central Stadium here. Health Minister K K Shylaja presided over the function held in the morning.
The CM, who did not mince words while flaying concerted efforts by certain sections to hijack yoga for their vested interests, said yoga existed even before the Rigveda period. He said the world has embraced yoga on account of its proven abilities to cure a host of lifestyle ailments. Moreover, yoga brings an inner discipline to the practitioners and it has to be promoted. Interestingly, the CM noted there are a group of persons who practises yoga on a regular basis, but it had failed to bring in any tangible change in their outlook or mindset.
According to Pinarayi, yoga must go beyond the confines of religion or organisation and people cutting across any party lines, religion and caste should take to the ancient science since it has the power to transform life.
After the Yoga Day’s formal inauguration, the Health Minister responded to the organisers’ invite to participate in the yoga session. Shylaja took part in session despite her misgivings on the Sanskrit prayer being chanted before the commencement of the yoga session.