DU colleges plan healthy food, not just asanas, for Yoga Day

With all the activity going on in Delhi University, it's hard to believe it’s actually vacation season on campus. The next big event in DU will be the university-wide events on International Yoga Day, June 21, being organized as per the instructions of the HRD ministry and UGC (University Grants Commission). And DU colleges are going to make sure that people eat and drink healthy after the sessions, conducted by yoga professionals.
Nariyal Pani at KMC
The college’s yoga session is going to start at about 8.30-9am, and we’re told that students, teachers and staff members are all going to be part of the event.Kaushal Kumar Sharma, NSS convener of Kirori Mal College, says, "It is a joint programme between our college and Gwyer Hall (the men’s hostel), so we are holding two events – one on June 20 at Gwyer Hall, and the other one in our college premises on June 21. We have proposed to the Ministry of AYUSH that we distribute nariyal pani during the main event as refreshment. The programme will start with some basic asanas, which will be followed by a lecture on the importance of yoga in our lives."
It was sprouts and jaggery last year: Khalsa
SGTB Khalsa College will organize practice yoga sessions from June 18 to 20 for students as well as faculty members. The main event will take place in their cricket ground. Says Gurinder Singh, NSS convener, SGTB Khalsa College, "The session is going to start around 7am and will end by 9.30 am. There are some who wish to learn the basic postures before the main event, and that is why we are having these practice sessions. We have requested teachers, students and the non-teaching staff to be part of the main event. Last year, we distributed sprouts and jaggery as refreshments, and we are thinking of doing something similar this year as well."
Nimbu pani at Hindu
Hindu College’s yoga session will begin with a talk on the importance of yoga, followed by pranayam and basic yoga asanas. "We are either going to provide sprouts or nimbu pani to those coming for the event," says Rameshwar Rai, NSS convener of the college.

Milk shakes at JMC
The programme at Jesus & Mary College will start around 7am, and as per instructions, will be followed by a talk on the importance of yoga. "We will have a professional yoga instructor teaching asanas on the day. It is mandatory for all the teachers, staff members and students to be part of the programme, but since college is closed, we don’t know how many students will turn up. We are also thinking of distributing something healthy on the day, like nariyal pani or milkshakes," says Preeti Ranjan Ghosh, JMC’s NSS convener.
Sprouts/sharbat/buttermilk at Venky
Sri Venkateswara College’s Yoga Day activities will include a yoga competition open to everyone. "We have called a yoga expert to lead the programme, besides students from our college trained in yoga. We will start with a two minute prayer and then follow the expert in asanas. We are also going to gift t-shirts to all those participating. For refreshments, we are thinking of providing sprouts and bananas with either rose sharbat milk or chhaachh. We are yet to finalise this with the committee," says Narendra Gaur, HoD of Venky’s physical education department.
College’s yoga team to lead the programme at LSR
Yoga is integral to the activities at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, and we were told that Yoga Day is a collaborative programme between NSS (National Service Scheme), NCC (National Cadet Corps) and NSO (National Sports Organisation). "It is not an episodic thing that we organize only once a year. We have a yoga team and yoga sessions are held throughout the year. The yoga session on June 21 will be led by the yoga team comprising of students as well as the yoga teacher of our college," says Smita Sahgal, the college’s NSS programme officer. "We will hold a talk on the importance of yoga and we are also thinking of distributing nariyal pani as refreshment."

Learn asanas online
SRCC will organize a morning yoga session for faculty and students on June 21. "We are going to have a practice session on June 20, but since many of our students are not in town, we will be sending mails to them explaining the right postures and various asanas to them," says Abhay Jain, NSS convener of the college. "And since it’s Yoga Day, aloo puri toh nahin khilayenge. We will provide something healthy as refreshment. We will also give certificates to those who are part of the event."
A documentary on yoga at Ramjas
Ramjas College authorities will have a professional yoga instructor instruct participants in the basic asanas on Yoga Day. "The event will start around 7.30-8am, and it is an open session. We are also going to screen a documentary on the benefits of yoga. The basic yoga asanas will be followed by refreshments - perhaps an energy drink and a sandwich, which will be healthy as well as light," says Suruchi, NSS convener of the college.