THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thousands of people participated in the mass yoga events staged across the capital city on Sunday to mark the first International Yoga Day.
In addition to the state-level event organised at Central Stadium in the morning, various organisations, including schools and armed forces formations in the capital, organised displays to mark the celebrations.
As many as 3,025 participants, including Indian Army personnel, NCC cadets and students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pangode, and the Army Public School attended the Yoga Day celebrations held at Colachel Stadium of Pangode Military Station in the morning.
Station Commander Brigadier Samir Salunke presided over the event and urged students and armed forces personnel to inculcate the habit of incorporating yoga in their daily life for professional and personal contentment and success. The 35-minute session, which began at 7 am, was led by Dr Vasundhara Amma P and ‘yogasanas’ in standing, sitting and sleeping positions were introduced to the participants.
The programme ended with the participants taking an oath, ‘sankalp’, to rightfully fulfil their moral duties towards the society and country.
NCC (Kerala and Lakshadweep) Additional Director General Major General C P Singh was also present on the occasion.
At Sainik School, Kazhakkoottam, 750 youngsters participated in the celebrations.
As many as 560 Sainik School Air Cadets and Naval Wing NCC cadets from St Vincent’s HS Kaniyapuram, Government HSS Azhoor and St Xavier’s College, Thumba, participated in the display which included various yoga postures and ‘pranayama.’ ‘’This display was held in association with the NCC, which attempted to set a new world record of maximum number of youths performing yoga on the same day at the same time at different venues spread across the nation,’’ a school official said.
Sainik School principal Colonel A Rajiv, Dr Jagannadhan, Vice-Principal, Siddha College of Medical Science, and registrar Lt Col B Girish Kumar were present.
The Southern Air Command, Akkulam, also organised an event to mark the day’s celebrations. Two sessions were organised for air warriors and their families respectively, a defence spokesperson said.
‘Objections to Yoga will Die Down’
Practising Yoga on a daily basis will provide the nation’s youth with the moral strength to face challenges, Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said here on Sunday.
Gowda, who attended the BJP’s election campaign in Aruvikkara, also found time to attend three Yoga Day events.
He said that the objections to practising yoga were natural and would die down in due course. Yoga should be promoted cutting across party lines and religion as it has the capability to strengthen the body, mind and soul, he said.
‘’The concept has found acceptance worldwide. That is why the UN has declared the International Yoga Day,’’ he said.
