CUTTACK: Hundreds of denizens, youths and children joined the International Day of Yoga celebration in the Millennium City with public sessions hosted by different organisations across different parts on Sunday.
In keeping with the schedule fixed by the Common Yoga Protocol developed by the Union Ministry of Ayush, the district-level yoga programme was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium from 7 am. More than 1000 people from all walks of life including old and young, school children, college students, NCC cadets and NSS volunteers took part in asana and pranayam routines through more than half an hour session.
The programme was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan in presence of Additional District Magistrate LK Mohapatra, retired Orissa High Court judge Justice BP Das, Odisha Cricket Association secretary Ashirbaad Behera, former MLA Samir Dey and former mayor Nibedita Pradhan among others.
At Barabati stadium, members of Patanjali Yogashram organised a programme with more than 500 attending it while the NCC cadets and officers performed asanas at their headquarters on the premises. The Orissa High Court Bar Association and Cuttack Bar Association also observed Yoga Day with a special session for its members.
The buzz around the World Yoga Day celebrations had filled people with much enthusiasm. For many, it was a proud moment as the ancient Indian knowledge had finally got global recognition despite the discipline being practised with much following across the world.
“Yoga is the most valuable science of good health and well-being. In the present day society, where man is not only exposed to various kinds of illnesses but also filled with stress and tension, yoga is the perfect solution to keep one free of physical and mental turmoil,” said Trilochan Das of Mangalabag, who took part in a session organised in the city.
Many were also of the opinion that Yoga Day should not become a symbolic one as scores of other days that are observed for other causes. “The recognition should act as a catalyst in actually integrating yoga in every day routine. People have on Sunday flocked to events to practise yoga but going back they should make it a daily affair. Only then the real reward of yoga can be achieved in the country,” Sudarshan Mohanty, a youth remarked.
Organisations like Barabati Yogashram, Brahma Kumari Ashram and Art of Living also organised programmes on the occasion.
