Yoga Day celebrated in Mysuru

International Day of Yoga was celebrated in the backdrop of the iconic Mysuru palace in the city on June 21 with nearly 15,000 people taking part in the UN’s annual event highlighting the health benefits of the ancient Indian discipline.

Stakeholders, including members of various yoga organisations in Mysuru, had taken the initiative to organise a series of pre-event activities stretching for three weeks in the run-up to the programme on June 21. A salient feature of the yoga day event was the participation of children with special abilities.

In his address, district in-charge Minister H.C. Mahadevappa emphasised the ancient roots of yoga in Indian tradition, and its recognition on the world stage.

“Yoga is a science gifted to the world by India. It brings harmony between the mind and body. Even allopathic doctors recommend yoga for strengthening joints and improving overall health,” he said.

Mr. Mahadevappa said a country’s progress depends on social harmony and health, values that yoga promotes, and added that yoga contributes to building a healthy, united, and peaceful society.

Highlighting the growing relevance of yoga, he said people of any age can start learning and practising yoga to reap health benefits. “Combining yoga with pranayam (breathing exercise) will do wonders for one’s health and help manage stress,” he added.

Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar highlighted Mysuru’s deep connection with yoga, and described it as the ‘birthplace of modern yoga’. “Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar had brought renowned yoga master T. Krishnamacharya from Banaras to Mysuru. What was once a spiritual discipline, was made dynamic by Mr. Krishnamacharya, trained disciples like B.K.S. Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois, who took yoga to the world,” he added.

He urged the people of Mysuru to take pride in this heritage and become yoga ambassadors. “The global popularity of yoga owes much to Mysuru. Now, the world must benefit from it, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi envisioned,” he said.

The event was inaugurated by lighting a lamp and blowing a conch after which the Common Yoga Protocol was followed. The theme of this year’s event was Yoga for One Earth, One Health.  

Krishnaraja MLA T.S. Srivatsa, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, and others were present. Representatives and members of Mysuru Yoga Federation, Sri Pathanjali Yoga Shikshana Samsthe and other organisations took part in the event.