Mysuru: Around 8,000 people, ranging from four-year-old Nishaan to 80-year-old Ningamma, gathered at the Mysuru Palace premises early on Sunday morning to celebrate the 12th International Yoga Day with a mass yoga session in the city often referred to as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’.
Amid pleasant southwest monsoon weather with temperatures hovering around 21 degrees Celsius, participants began assembling at the venue as early as 6 am. They spread their mats across the palace grounds and performed yoga under the theme, ‘Yoga for Healthy Aging’.
The event was organised by the district administration and the Department of Ayush (DoA) in association with various yoga institutes and organisations.
Mass yoga session begins with Shankanaada
The programme commenced with a Shankanaada by Ganesh Kumar at 7.10 am, following which participants performed exercises as per the Common Yoga Protocol till 7.58 am.
Mysore-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar inaugurated the event and recalled Mysuru’s long association with yoga.
He said Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar had invited renowned yoga guru Tirumalai Krishnamacharya to the city, laying the foundation for Mysuru’s emergence as a global centre for yoga.
Highlighting the city’s contribution to modern-day yoga, Yaduveer described yoga as India’s soft power and urged people to practise it regularly for physical, mental and holistic well-being.
Officials and public representatives join celebrations
Several elected representatives and senior officials participated in the mass yoga session.
Among those present were MLA T.S. Srivatsa, MLA C.N. Manjegowda, Mysuru City Corporation Commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif, Additional Deputy Commissioner Aishwarya, Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi, Deputy Commissioner of Police K.S. Sundar Raj and Deputy Director of Public Instruction D. Uday Kumar.
District Ayush Officer Dr C. Renukadevi said yoga should not remain confined to a single day of observance but become an integral part of everyday life for maintaining good health.
Children with special needs participate
The event witnessed participation from children with visual impairment and developmental challenges.
Eleven-year-old Samarth Gowda and 27 other visually challenged children from the Government Blind School, led by Payal Sharma of the Equibeing Foundation, joined the celebrations.
Five-year-old Srivatsa Trilochan, who is undergoing treatment for autism at the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), also participated along with 24 other children diagnosed with autism, intellectual disabilities, hearing loss and other challenges.
The children performed yoga alongside their parents under the guidance of experts from AIISH.
A training manual for yoga instructors working with individuals with visual impairment, prepared by the Equibeing Foundation, was released during the programme.
Senior citizens inspire with their yoga journey
The event also featured enthusiastic participation from senior citizens and yoga practitioners from various Ayush Arogya Mandiras.
A group comprising Kamalamma (65), Shakunthala (68), Hoovamma (60), Premamma (53), Vasantha (47), Ragini (47), Mahadevamma (45) and several others from Kempisiddanahundi village in Nanjangud taluk arrived at the venue as early as 4.30 am.
Kamalamma said she had lost 20 kilograms through regular yoga practice over the past six years, while Shakunthala credited yoga for helping her remain healthy and active after undergoing multiple surgeries.
Participants from around 30 Ayush Yoga Mandiras across the district also joined the celebrations.
Yoga sessions held at 120 locations
For the first time, the Yoga Federation of Mysuru, in association with the Department of Ayush, organised yoga sessions at 120 locations across the city with the participation of more than 100 organisations.
According to organisers, around 1.20 lakh people took part in the celebrations across Mysuru district.
Yoga sessions were held at private schools, colleges, apartments, industries, religious institutions and marriage halls.
Students from University of Mysore colleges and hostels performed yoga at the Maharaja College cricket grounds, while various educational institutions, social organisations and spiritual groups organised similar events.
The District Legal Services Authority, JSS Mahavidyapeeta, Adichunchanagiri institutions, private schools and the Brahma Kumaris also hosted yoga sessions across the city.
As part of the celebrations, participants were administered an oath by the Mysuru City Corporation to maintain cleanliness and plant saplings to keep the city clean and green.
The Sri Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority arranged breakfast for around 6,000 participants at the venue.