Bhubaneswar, June 20: Yoga was already a way of life for many in the city with almost all the parks and playgrounds busy with myriad groups of yoga practitioners every morning.
But tomorrow, a host of politicians will be seen as ambassadors for the ancient system of physical exercise on account of the International Yoga Day at the Kalinga Stadium. A host of events are lined up for the day.
At the celebrations hosted by the state health and family welfare department, in association with the Odisha State Ayush Society at the Kalinga Stadium in the morning, four ministers will be present to endorse yoga. Health and family welfare minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, sports and youth affairs minister Sudam Marandi, culture and tourism minister Ashok Chandra Panda and higher education minister Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi.
"We are organising a mass yoga event at the Kalinga Stadium for youths and sportspersons. Watching the ministers promote yoga will instill enthusiasm and encourage the youngsters to do yoga regularly," said an official of the health and family welfare department.
While the politicians of the state government will be seen taking part in the International Yoga Day celebrations in Bhubaneswar, Jual Oram, Union minister for tribal affairs, will perform yoga at distant Jeypore in Koraput district. Spreading awareness about yoga in the hinterland will be helpful, feel yoga gurus.
"Yoga is neither a political issue nor related to any religion. It is an ancient science. For those, who do not wish to spend thousands of rupees to cure themselves, yoga should be a daily part of life. Performing suitable exercises under guidance can keep the body fit at all ages. Since people living in interior areas of the state do not have access to expensive fitness infrastructure, yoga should be promoted to keep people fit," said Nrusingha Charana Biswal, a yoga trainer at an institute in Niladri Vihar.
Various universities and colleges will tomorrow host special yoga sessions and discussion, even the Airports Authority of India is hosting a collective yoga programme from 6am to 7am inside Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.
"Over 47,000 cadets of Odisha will take part in the programme tomorrow in 92 venues spread across the state," said NCC, Odisha additional director J.P. Panda.
