Madurai ready for World Yoga Day

The United Nations General Assembly has declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga. It will be observed in 192 countries. In India, 650 districts are expected to participate which could get the country into the Guinness Book of Records.

June 19, 2015 09:13 pm | Updated 09:13 pm IST - MADURAI:

Illustration: S. Belmann

Illustration: S. Belmann

The countdown has begun and the Temple Town is also all set to join in the big moment: 7 a.m. to 7.35 a.m. sharp tomorrow (Sunday morning) when India will lead the world from Delhi’s Rajpath in celebrating the International Day of Yoga as declared by the United Nations.

Thousands of people, including school and college students, NCC cadets, office-goers, several teachers, students and practitioners of yoga are likely to participate in the event aimed at raising awareness and propagating the ancient exercise for wellness and peace. With support from yoga lovers and followers, different organisations have earmarked multiple venues for participants to perform the sequence of exercises as per the Common Yoga Protocol drawn up by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy(AYUSH).

Of course, nobody is willing to put a figure as the mega exercise is absolutely voluntary. But the excitement and enthusiasm is palpably high, echo those involved in motivating the people.

Dr.M.G.R.Stadium at Race Course and the A.R.Lines Police Ground are the main hubs of activity in the city where 2,826 and 2,892 NCC cadets respectively drawn from 265 educational institutions in Madurai district will perform yoga as per the specified protocol. NCC yoga instructors have been conducting training camps – minimum 15 hours necessary -- for the cadets wanting to participate at the event, says Group Commander, NCC HQ Madurai, Col.S. Gopikrishna. Across Tamil Nadu, 20,692 NCC cadets will don the yoga T-shirt and their Khaki pants and simultaneously join their 11 lakh counterparts all over the country in an attempt to establish a world record by NCC cadets. Independent witnesses from the Limca’s Book will be recording the event at both the venues in Madurai.

The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre and Ashram has been playing a significant role for decades in popularising yoga across borders. The centre at K.K.Nagar here has planned a yoga demonstration with its students, morning walkers and volunteers at the Walkers Club on Sunday. Madurai Corporation Commissioner C.Kathiravan is slated to inaugurate the 90 minute programme at 6 a.m. The Centre Director, Yashpal Singh Rawat, who is expecting not less than 150 people, says, it is a big thing that the global community is united in celebrating yoga together. “The benefits of yoga should reach everybody and not be marred by politics,” he says, adding, “Yoga is like a health product today”. He also plans to distribute pamphlets to help people understand the importance of yoga. The Sivananda Ashram at Vellyamapathi near Madurai too has planned a special yoga programme on June 21 from 4.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to be inaugurated by the District Collector.

At the Gandhi Museum, where monthly courses are held for yoga enthusiasts round-the-year, instructor Gangadharan says people are generally now inclined to enhance the quality of life and of late he has seen a spurt in members joining his classes. For Sunday, he has called his teaching faculty, non-teaching staff members, sportspersons, students, learners and all yoga enthusiasts to come at 7 a.m. on Sunday to do the round of pranayama, surya namaskar and the asanas.

Several other smaller and private yoga training centres and individuals too have pledged their support to the day. Managing Trustee of Roof Foundation, Vidhiya Ramani is a yoga trainer for more than 20 years. For the big day, she has trained 120 students of Ariyava Montessori Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Madapuram, who will synchronise their performance with the rest of the country. Likewise G. Saravanan of Pillar Foundation gave a month-long training to 120 students of NSS unit at K.M.College of Pharmacy who will perform yoga at the prescribed time on June 21 at the Samuthuva Ilaignar Narpani Mandram, Oomatchikulam.

Whether people join or not in the mega event, whether they do yoga seriously and regularly or for fun, but surely the idea has become the subject for discussion and, Madurai in its own little way is set to make a statement.

Quotes:

“Yoga is not just for the body but for the mind and inner peace as well. It is for all age group. Unless you experience it, you will not know how it benefits you,”

Sanditha Narayan, Yoga Teacher at TVS group of schools.

“Yoga is an art that helps to connect us with ourselves and others, with the world and the nature. Regular practice of yoga transforms our body, mind, emotion and power in a positive manner.” – Vidhiya Ramani, Founder of Ease Yoga School, Sivagangai Road and yoga trainer at The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai.

"Yoga has become synonymous with relaxation, health and happiness. It does not mean just to bend or twist your body. It is a skill in action that helps you to develop physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially – all prerequisites for inner peace.” – Yashpal Singh Rawat , Director, Sivananda Yoga Centre

World Yoga Day Programme:

The protocol for the International Yoga Day will begin with a prayer in any meditative posture and end with yoga mudrasana. This will be followed by a 3-minute presentation consisting of neck, shoulder and knee movements. Kapalbhati and Pranayama session have been scheduled. Yogasana including standing postures, sitting postures, prone lying postures and supine lying postures, will follow. Music will be played in the background during the dhyana.

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