There was a huge turnout for the programme organised by the district administration to mark International Day of Yoga at the indoor stadium in the city on Sunday.
The participants performed basic asanas including tadasana, vrikshasana, paada hasthasana, ardha chakrasana, trikonasana, bhadrasana, ardhavruthasana, bhujangasana, salabhasana. In addition to this, kapalabhati, anuloma viloma and pranayama exercises were also performed.
B.S. Yeddyurappa, Shivamogga MP and national vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party who inaugurated the programme said that it was possible to lead a healthy and vibrant life by practicing yoga and pranayama regularly.
He said that, yoga and moral education should become part of curriculum. The access to learning yoga should be provided to people from all strata of society, he said.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said that, yoga that originated in India is attaining popularity in Western nations also. Modern society is mired in mistrust and disharmony. It is possible to realise peace and social amity by promoting yoga, he said.
Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa, member of Rajya Sabha Ayanur Manjunath, Shivamogga MLA K.B. Prasanna Kumar, MLCs M.B. Bhanuprakash, R.K. Siddaramanna, President of Zilla Panchayat Kalagodu Rathnakar, pontiff of Jade mutt Mahanta Swamiji were present.
An exhibition and a walkathon were also held to mark the event.
The International Yoga Day was observed at the premises of Sahyadri College in the city by Karnataka 20th battalion of National Cadet Corps(NCC). A mass demonstration of yoga was held in which more than 2,000 NCC cadets took part. The Niramaya Yoga Kendra, Malenadu Hrudaya Pratishthana, and Patanjali Yoga Kendra organised lectures and demonstrations on yoga to mark the occasion.
Access to learning yoga should be provided to people from all strata of society: Yeddyurappa