Swagat Sekhar Jena practises yogasan sitting on a motorcycle. Pictures by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, Oct. 29: Swagat Sekhar Jena, 18, is the talk of silk city Berhampur for his ability to perform yogasans and pranayam on a moving bike without any formal training or a guru. Though his parents discourage his stunts, he hopes to become famous through his work.

“I am a great follower of Baba Ramdev and practice yogasans since one and half years. But the idea to perform yogasans on a moving motorcycle came to my mind one month ago when I was on way to Dhabaleswar temple, Golabandha. I wanted to do something special. The road was quite lonely. I lifted both my hands from the handle of the running bike and was able to maintain balance on the seat. I sat in padmasan pose and everything went smoothly. It encouraged me to practice this regularly,” said Swagat. The teenager stays in a student mess at Panda Nivas in Gajapati Nagar.

Swagat has been performing yogasans and pranayam on a moving bike since last five days. Many onlookers gathered on the spot to have a glimpse over his ability and applause when Swagat performed the stunts.

“I can perform yogasans including padmasan, bhujangasan, bajrasan, siddhasan and others besides eight pranayams including kapalabhati, anulom, bilom, bahya, agnisar, udgita, uddyini, om and vastrika on a moving bike when it is in 40km to 60km per hour. When the speed of the bike slows down I again press the accelerator and jump to another pose. I performed in Rangeilunda air strip, Golabandha Road and MKCG Medical College Road earlier,” he said.

Swagat who hails from Padmapur in Rayagada district, is the youngest son of Bipin Bihari Jena, a medicine shop owner and mother Sanjulata at Padampur. He left the native place two years ago, after he passed matriculation from Bijayananda High School Rayagada and secured 85 per cent marks. He passed plus two from Nilakantha Nagar Saraswati Bidya Mandir near Housing Board Colony and is preparing for medical entrance at present. He is experimenting kundalini jagarana through yogasan.

“Though my father is selling allopathic medicines, I am not in favour of that. The ancient ayurvedic medicine is very effective and low cost. I have plans to open Sri Jagannath Hospital in Puri and provide the patients with ayurvedic medicines and treatment through yogic exercises,” he said. Swagat is a writer too. He has written many articles in English and Oriya on nature and spiritualism. He has also tuned and composed many devotional songs on Lord Jagannath.