Hundreds gather at Khaspur fort for Yoga Day celebrations

Silchar: The historic Kachari Fort at Khaspur came alive on Sunday as hundreds of people participated in the Yoga Day celebrations organised by the Cachar district administration. The programme highlighted the role of yoga in promoting physical fitness, mental well-being and emotional balance across all age groups.The initiatives, covering six districts — Kamrup, Cachar, Sonitpur, Jorhat, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon — aimed to strengthen public engagement with yoga while creating awareness about Assam’s cultural and historical heritage.The event was attended by minister Kaushik Rai, Udharbond MLA Rajdeep Goala and senior officials from the health, sports, municipal and education departments. A large number of school students, yoga enthusiasts and members of the public also took part in the programme.Addressing the gathering, Rai described yoga as one of India’s greatest contributions to humanity and said it is a holistic discipline that nurtures the body, mind and spirit. Stressing the relevance of this year's theme, he urged people to incorporate yoga into their daily lives to lead healthier and more active lifestyles amid rising lifestyle-related health issues.Goala said yoga has emerged as an effective tool for preventive healthcare, helping individuals manage stress, improve physical fitness and build mental resilience.

He encouraged young people to embrace yoga as a means of maintaining good health and staying connected with India’s cultural heritage.The programme featured a mass yoga session led by instructor Chanden Dev, with participants performing various yogic practices in a synchronised manner.Certificates were later distributed to winners of the District-Level Yoga Asana Competition 2026 in recognition of their performance and dedication.Reports of observance of the International Day of Yoga came in from different parts of Barak Valley. – bbg.