Various programmes were organised in the city to observe International Yoga Day on Sunday.
Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar inaugurated the State-level observance at Central Stadium here in the presence of Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson, other officials, and over 700 students selected from various schools.
Mr. Sivakumar said the State government would adopt steps to popularise yoga in schools and healthcare institutions. Programmes to promote yoga would be implemented through the Ayush Department. Arrangements would be made to conduct yoga training in Ayurvedic dispensaries that would be set up in all panchayats across the State.
Yoga training
The Minister said a yoga training programme had been launched at Government Higher Secondary School, Keezharoor, and the same would be extended to other educational institutions in various phases. The government had already imparted yoga training to Ayush doctors, officials, and 63 school health nurses in the State, he said.
Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson presided over the function. Health Secretary K. Ellangovan delivered the keynote address. Ayush Secretary M. Beena; Director of Health Services S. Jayasankar; Director of Indian Systems of Medicine Anita Jacob; Director of Ayurveda Medical Education T. Sivadas; Ayush State programme managers G.S. Balachandran and P. Haridas participated in the function.
Nearly 700 people, including Student Police Cadets, school health nurses, and students of Government High School, Malayinkeezhu, participated in the mass yoga led by yoga master Surendranath at the stadium. Yoga dances were presented by students of the Sivananda International School of Yoga and the Sree Krishna Medical College of Naturopathy and Yoga. A documentary on yoga was released by Mr. Sivakumar during the function.
Union Minister for Law and Justice D.V. Sadananda Gowda toured the district to participate in multiple functions to commemorate the Yoga day. He kicked off his visit by inaugurating the observance organised by the Pathanjali Yoga Vidya Kendra at Aryanad. He later participated in functions organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra at Kumarapuram and the Mata Amritanandamayi Math at Vellayambalam.
Over 3,000 people, including military personnel, National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, and students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pangode, and Army Public School, Thiruvananthapuram, attended the celebration held at Colachel Stadium at the Pangode military station.
Hundreds of NCC cadets participated in the celebrations organised by the NCC Kerala and Lakshadweep Directorate at the Pangode military ground. Station Commander Brigadier Samir Salunke, NCC (Kerala and Lakshadweep), Additional Director General Major General C.P. Singh, and NCC Thiruvananthapuram Group Commander Brigadier Shaji led the programme.
The day was celebrated with fervour at the headquarters of the Southern Air Command at Akkulam. The Kerala Police observed the day with a yoga session held at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium. State Police Chief T.P. Senkumar was among the participants at the programme.
Raj Bhavan staff, numbering around 40, took part in a yoga programme organised on the premises. Governor P. Sathasivam was out of station, officials said.
A mass yoga demonstration in which 750 students participated was held at Sainik School, Kazhakuttam. Air and naval wing cadets from St. Vincent High School, Kaniyapuram; Higher Secondary School, Azhoor; and St. Xavier’s College, Thumba, participated in the programme.
Besides the numerous schools in the city, other organisations that held such programmes included the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, the Confederation of Indian Industry, and the State Resource Centre-Kerala.
