Yoga practice should not end with month-long campaign, Collector tells people

The month-long ‘Yogandhra’ campaign, which began on May 21 and culminated with the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations on Saturday, was launched to encourage the public to incorporate yoga in their daily lives, said NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha.

Speaking at the Yoga Day celebrations at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium in Vijayawada, the Collector said that while thousands of people participated every day in the programme in the district, the practice should not end with the campaign. “The month-long celebration should only be a beginning for the public, not the end,” he added.

According to the district officials, around 5,000 people participated in the programme. Chief Commissioner of Land Administration G. Jayalakshmi, Police Commissioner S.V. Rajasekhar Babu, Joint Collector S. Ilakkiya and others were also present.

In the past month, the administration organised yoga programmes in the city streets, tourist destinations, historical sites and also on the Krishna river, the Collector said. Around 8,50,000 people in 5,454 places within the limits of 605 village/ward secretariats took part in the yoga programmes, the Collector added.

Yoga is a gift that nature has bestowed upon us to remain mentally and physically fit, the Collector said, while listing out the benefits of practising it every day.

Later, he congratulated the members of Yoga Association on their role in the Floating Yoga programme held recently. The programme had received wide admiration. On Saturday, around 200 people performed yoga in the Krishna river in an event organised by the Aqua Devils Swimming Association.

In Krishna district, the programme was organised on the premises of Sri Viswasanthi Educational Institutions in Vuyyuru. Along with District Collector D.K. Balaji, Penamaluru MLA Bode Prasad, Machilipatnam MP Vallabhaneni Balashowry, APSRTC Chairman K. Narayana Rao, and Superintendent of Police (SP) R. Gangadhar Rao also took part.

A green carpet was laid on the ground for the students and officials to perform yoga. Later, breakfast was arranged for those who took part in the programme. Medical camps were also set up. Cultural programmes and an award ceremony followed, where yoga instructors and students were felicitated.