International Yoga Day: Institutes across Pune figure out innovative ideas to celebrate

The Deccan Chamber of Commerce Industries & Agriculture, Pune, had organised yoga sessions to celebrate and promote the importance of yoga. These sessions were organised in corporate and management colleges, said DCCIA general manager Bijal Kotadia. The first session was organised at Kothari Wheels in Viman Nagar at 9:30 am, where Michael D’Souza, CEO, Kothari Wheels, attended the event along with other staff. The second session was conducted at Ajeenkya DY Patil University in Charoli, where EB Khedkar, officiating V-C, participated in the event and motivated his staff.

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Symbiosis International University celebrated the day, with students and staff being taught Desk Yoga by renowned yoga trainer Dr Renu Mahtani. Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Dr Rajiv Yeravekar, Dean, Faculty of Health and Biomedical Sciences, SIU, said, “Rather than just conducting a one-off session wherein all delegates passively follow demos of the master trainer and forgetting everything soon after the session is over with no residual learnings, we have proposed to focus on ‘Yog literacy’ and educate staff and students of SIU on an ongoing and continued basis.”

At BJ Medical College, an awareness programme was held. Dean Dr Ajay Chandanwale said, “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition which embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature.”

More than 200 people participated in the event at BJ Medical College. At Tarachand Hospital, trustee Dr Suhas Parchure spoke about the importance of yoga and held several sessions on the occasion. The day was also celebrated with much vigour at various military establishments in and around Pune. It was celebrated at Milkha Singh Sports Complex on behalf of Dakshin Maharashtra Sub Area. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation of 1,126 military persons, their families and ex-servicemen belonging to different age groups. Trained yoga instructors conducted the session for all volunteers and also highlighted the importance of yoga and its growing popularity in the entire world.

In Pimpri-Chinchwad, the PCMC led from the front, holding a yoga session at Acharya Atre auditorium. Several schools including DY Patil School and GG International Shikshan Parasarak Mandal’s Marathi School in Yamunanagar participated in the event.

“There was overwhelming response from students,” said Mrudula Mahajan, principal, DY Patil School. “Yoga should be practised everyday. That was the message we gave to our students,” said Leena Vartak, principal, SP Mandal’s Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Yamunanagar. “It was a sight to watch for as students enthusiastically took part in our school’s yoga session,” said Sheetal Mahankale, a teacher.