Hyderabad, June 21 (UNI) The 11th International Day of Yoga was celebrated in a grand manner at the GMC Balayogi Sports Stadium in Gachibowli on Saturday morning.
The event was jointly organised by the Department of AYUSH and the Telangana Medical and Health Department.
The programme commenced with a yoga photo exhibition from 0620 to 0630 hours, followed by a virtual address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi broadcast on LED screens from 0630 to 0700 hours. A 45-minute mass yoga session was then held from 0700 to 0745 hours.
Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha, Sports Minister Vakiti Srihari, Sports Authority Chairman Shivsena Reddy, Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, along with several officials and students, participated in the celebrations. In total, more than 5,000 individuals performed yoga during the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha said that yoga is a profound gift India has offered to the world. He emphasised remembering Maharishi Patanjali, the revered guru who systematised the ancient practice, and highlighted the significance of Ashtanga Yoga, which he described as the foundation of modern yoga.
"Yoga is not just a physical exercise—it is a holistic practice that unites the body, mind, and soul," the minister said. "In today’s fast-paced world, lifestyle-related ailments like blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and kidney issues are increasing. Yoga offers the best solution for these problems."
He urged everyone to incorporate yoga into their daily lives, stating that all it requires is determination and a good teacher. "Regular yoga practice enhances mental clarity, physical strength, and concentration."
Minister Rajanarsimha also outlined the government’s efforts under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s leadership to promote yoga across the state. These include the appointment of 630 yoga instructors, with another 264 appointments in progress, and the daily conduct of yoga sessions in health sub-centres.
"In the past year alone, we have introduced yoga to 5 lakh new individuals. We are also encouraging yoga education in schools and colleges and are launching postgraduate courses in Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences. More initiatives will soon be rolled out to bring yoga closer to the people," he added.
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