Students and fitness enthusiasts turn up for International Yoga Day at Big Temple

Various institutions and organisations observed the 11th International Yoga Day (IYD) in the central districts by conducting mass exercise sessions and awareness programmes on Saturday, centred on this year's theme 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health.'
More than 500 persons participated in the mass yoga event organised by the Archaeological Survey of India in association with the 34(TN) Independent Company NCC at Sri Brihadeeswarar temple, Thanjavur on June 21.
The yoga session in the early morning hours attracting the participation of NCC cadets and elderly temple-goers underscored the relevance of yoga as a timeless practice for harmony of body, mind and spirit, according to an official release.
The Tiruchi Division of Southern Railway observed the day with mass yoga training sessions for officers and staff across various locations of the division.
Yoga sessions were held for staff at multiple locations across the division, including Vriddhachalam, Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Thanjavur, and Mayiladuthurai.
Over 150 students accompanied by their yoga trainers participated in an event organised by Mera Yuva Bharat, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in association with the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority at the District Sports Stadium, Tiruvarur.
Synchronised session
Over 200 staff and students of the Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN) in Neelakudi, Tiruvarur district, participated in the 'Yoga Sangam', a synchronised mass exercise session held across the country.
The event was based on the Common Yoga Protocol developed by the Union Ministry of AYUSH, in consultation with leading yoga experts.
The session was led by CUTN Vice-Chancellor M. Krishnan and senior officials.
Students from CUTN Kendriya Vidyalaya and Oxford School, Tiruvarur, participated in the programme conducted by the university's Department of Physical Education and Sports.
At the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Puducherry (NITPY), Karan Gautham, students activity and sports assistant and yoga instructor, led a session on yogic postures, Pranayama, and meditation techniques for staff and students.
Krishnakumar, yoga instructor from the Ariyalur Yoga Centre, conducted a practical yoga training session at Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University, Perambalur. Chancellor A. Srinivasan spoke.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

India Gazette

2 hours ago

• India Gazette

Governor of Goa PS Sreedharan Pillai leads yoga session in Panaji to mark 11th International Yoga Day

Panaji (Goa) [India], June 21 (ANI): Governor of Goa, PS Sreedharan Pillai, on Saturday led a yoga session at the Old Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan in Panaji to mark the 11th International Yoga Day. The officials and staff members of Raj Bhavan, Goa, performed Yoga at Raj Bhavan. Sanjeev Gauns Desai, Secretary to the Governor, also participated in the yoga session. The International Yoga Day is being celebrated every year across the globe on June 21 since last eleven years to create awareness about its vast potential in improving overall health and well-being. It also promotes the practice of yoga for physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing worldwide. The participants of yoga were guided by Dhananjay Patil an experienced yoga instructor attached to Tapobhumi, Kundaim. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed happiness over the global enthusiasm for the 11th International Day of Yoga, noting that people from all walks of life participated in the celebrations. Sharing glimpses from the event held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, the Prime Minister said the day highlighted how yoga 'unites' the world. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, 'Yoga unites the world! Glad to see immense enthusiasm all across the planet for International Day of Yoga.' 'I took part in a Yoga Day programme in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. People from all walks of life also joined. Here are some glimpses,' the post reads. Meanwhile, in Gujarat's Vadnagar, a total of 2,121 people made a Guinness World Record when they held the Cobra pose for two minutes and nine seconds. According to Richard Stunning, official adjudicator at Guinness World Records, a record with a title for the most people performing the cobra pose in yoga began on Saturday. The minimum number of participants for the record was 250; they had to hold the Yoga Cobra pose for at least a minute. A total of 2,184 participants breached the one-minute timeline; they ended up holding the cobra pose for two minutes and nine seconds. The Guinness World Records discounted 64 participants, after which 2,121 participants held the cobra pose for two minutes and nine seconds to clinch the Guinness World Record. 'The Guinness World Records title that starts today is the most people performing the cobra pose in yoga, simultaneously. We set a guideline that everyone had to do it for at least a minute each, and we set a minimum target of 250 participants. Today, they did it for more than a minute, they did it for two minutes and nine seconds, and the total was 2185. We had to discount 64 participants. So the confirmed title is 2,121 participants. Given we set a minimum of 250, this is smashing the Guinness World Record. Congratulations to everyone involved, and it's a fantastic achievement,' Richard Stunning told ANI. (ANI)

Time of India

2 hours ago

• Time of India

Hirebenakal eyes Unesco heritage tag through site upgrade

Koppal: Development initiatives are being planned at Hirebenakal, a 3,000-year-old megalithic site in Gangavathi taluk, with the goal of securing Unesco World Heritage status. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Situated 40km from the district headquarters, it requires a 10km uphill trek to reach the archaeological site. The site, under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Hampi Circle's protection, sits atop a castellated granite hillock, accessible from 3km southeast of the village. British officer Philip Meadows Taylor first discovered these monuments in 1835 while serving at the court of Nizam of Hyderabad. He presented the site internationally through a research publication in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. Locals describe the site, spanning over 20 hectares, as 'Morera houses'. The site's information board indicates these stone structures were built as memorials for the deceased. Some suggest Stone Age dwarfs inhabited these house-like formations. A large pond exists near the structures, indicating Neolithic Age inhabitants, primarily farmers, occupied this area. These rock tombs and cave art are currently on Unesco's World Heritage tentative list. The site houses the second-largest collection of monuments after Madhya Pradesh's cave paintings. Termed 'Rock monuments of early man', numerous well-preserved tombs exist here. Experts estimate approximately 500 tombs at this megalithic site. The site displays rock paintings depicting dancing, hunting, and weapon-wielding figures. Additional artwork includes geometric patterns and mystical designs of deer, peacocks, humped bulls, bullocks, horses, and cows. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "If properly excavated, more important things can come to light at this site," says Dr Sharanabasappa Kolkar, a historian from Gangavathi. A hemispherical kettledrum stone, strategically positioned on a hillock, measures 2.2m in diameter with 1.5m radial height. It sits on a 10m high monolithic boulder with a beating surface. When struck with stone or wooden implements, it produces musical sounds audible beyond 1km. Dr Sharanabasappa Kolkar mentions that during Rajnish Goyal's visit, the Kalaburgi regional commissioner, in 2010, they proposed including the site in the Unesco World Heritage list. The archaeological department forwarded the application, but Unesco rejected it. "Due to persistent efforts, two years ago, Unesco added the Hirebenkal megalithic site to its provisional list, and we must accelerate efforts to secure its place on the permanent list," he emphasised. Tourism minister HK Patil, during his recent visit, announced plans to develop the site to international standards. He assured that govt would undertake all necessary steps to achieve World Heritage List recognition. Additionally, Patil announced that to educate Bengaluru residents about the site's importance, they would organise a photographic exhibition of the rock tombs at the Venkatappa Art Gallery by Aug 15. Plans are under way to conduct further research within a 5km radius of the hill.

The Hindu

5 hours ago

• The Hindu

International Yoga Day celebrated in Visakhapatnam with participation from various organisations and departments

Apart from general public, the employees and their family members of various State and Central departments, industries, PSUs like RINL-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), HPCL Visakh Refinery, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited, and Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command (ENC) here participated in the Yogandhra-2025, the 11th edition of International Yoga Day, organised by the Union Ministry of Ayush and hosted by the State government in Visakhapatnam on Saturday (June 21). As many as 11,000 personnel and families of the Sunrise Command took part in the yoga event, echoing the 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health.' The sailors had the yoga on board the 11 ENC fleets at anchorage off Visakhapatnam coast. Similarly, over 2,800 staff and employees of Waltair railway division of South Coast Railway took part in the Yoga Sangam, mass yoga demonstrations nationwide at the railway stadium here, in collaboration with various NGOs, Scouts & Guides, Civil Defence, coinciding with the Prime Minister's event at RK Beach. It was led by Divisional Railway Manager Lalit Bohra. Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone staff took part in the event on the zone premises here, along with its SEZ premises in Telangana. Srinivas Muppaala, Development Commissioner, said yoga is much more than a wellness approach; it relaxes the mind, strengthens the body and helps the individual nurture a heightened sense of self-awareness. Dredging Corporation of India Limited conducted the event under the guidance of Chairman Madhaiyan Angamuthu and MD&CEO Durgesh Kumar Dubey. The unique highlight of DCIL's celebrations was the yoga sessions onboard dredging vessels. On the other hand, while some staff and employees took part in the yoga event, some of the EPDCL staff strove hard to make the programme a success. The discom Madhurawada zone head Polaki Srinivasa Rao said, 'A few departments including the electricity department took part in the yoga event in both – service of power supply and practice of yoga – as per the call given by our higher authorities.'