Yoga day celebrated in the city

The International Day of Yoga was celebrated across Bhubaneswar on June 21, with schools, colleges, educational institutions, government and private organisations conducting yoga camps. Thousands of people, including politicians and celebrities, participated in various activities. Along with school and college campuses, city parks were also venues for yoga practitioners on this occasion.Despite rain throughout the day, people took part in the yoga camps everywhere in large numbers.

The tourism ministry of the government of India, in collaboration with Odisha Tourism, organised an event to observe the day at the peace pagoda or Shanti Stupa in Dhauli — one of the popular Buddhist tourism sites on the outskirts of the city. Actor Kuna Tripathy, chairman of Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC), took part in that camp, along with officials of the tourism ministry and Odisha tourism department, where yoga guru Debasis Mohanty provided training to participants.
Similarly, the East Coast Railway also organised a yoga camp on its campus, where all the employees and officials took part. Meditation and lifestyle management experts also took part in the yoga sessions and provided valuable tips related to yoga for better living. “Yoga is aimed at maintaining a balanced mind for development self-confidence and helps people lead a balanced life,” said Vidya Bhushan, general manager, East Coast Railway, at the event.
One of the largest events was organised at Janata Maidan in the city where hundreds of people gathered to practise yoga along with the king of Puri, Gajapati Dibyasingh Deo.
The students of Dhauli Art and Craft College also organised a painting event on the occasion with some Yoga-related messages.