Stage set for Yoga Day at 4K places across UP: Minister

Varanasi: The theme of 11th International Yoga Day, to be celebrated on Sunday, Jun 21, is ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health', with the aim of integrating yoga into lifestyle of public and to spread its message globally. UP minister of AYUSH, Dayashankar Mishra ‘Dayalu', said yoga was not just a physical exercise but means for a harmonious lifestyle, mental balance and alignment with nature. He said extensive arrangements had been made made for the state-level event at 4,075 designated sites and the main event would be held on Raj Bhavan lawns in Lucknow.

The minister said that to realise vision of Prime Minister's ‘Yoga for Cooperation' and Chief Minister Yogi's ‘Healthy Uttar Pradesh', Yoga Week was being observed across the state from Jun 15 to 21, featuring special programmes, from village councils to Raj Bhavan. He said the plan was prepared with cooperation of the Lucknow Development Authority, transport corporation, police administration, municipal corporation, medical department, and information and public relations department for LED, sound systems, yoga mats, refreshments, security, traffic management and cleanliness.

In addition to the main event at the Raj Bhavan, group yoga sessions will be organised at 10 major parks in Lucknow, besides at 4,075 designated sites across the state, and at 1 lakh locations nationwide. Mishra said Yoga Week activities began as rehearsals on Jun 15, involving various competitions such as speeches, rangoli, extempore speeches, posters, and yoga exercises in AYUSH colleges, schools, universities, and hospitals.

He said special yoga sessions were being organised for specific groups like pregnant women, differently-abled individuals, underprivileged groups, prisoners, orphaned children and slum dwellers. Additionally, the ‘Y-Break' five-minute yoga method was being promoted in offices and the corporate sector.

The minister said that under the ‘Yoga Unplugged' branding, social media-based national and international yoga competitions were being held to attract youth. The aim of the initiative was to raise awareness about yoga among youth and make it an integral part of their daily routine. This time, yoga is being linked with environmental conservation through yoga sessions at natural sites, tree planting and cleanliness drives. Special yoga sessions are being organised at Amrit Sarovars, rivers, lakes, and parks, with tree planting under ‘One Tree in Mother's Name' initiative.