Thousands celebrate International Yoga Day in Assam

Guwahati, June 21: Thousands of people in Assam celebrated International Yoga Day on Sunday by participating in mass performances at various places across the state.

The state health and family welfare department organised a programme to celebrate International Yoga Day at Sarusajai Indoor Stadium here from 6.45 a.m. onwards.

Different organisations and institutions also organised mass yoga performances at Latasil Play ground in the city, Assam Veterinary college play ground at Khanapara, Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra and at other places of the city and the state.

Yoga Guru Devajit Nath demonstrated different yoga asanas to the participants and thousands of participants followed him for about 35 minutes to make the programme a success.

Yoga performances were also organized at different districts of the state to celebrate the international day.

Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal participated in the yoga performance at the Veterinary college playground at Khanapara.

"Yoga is a gift of our country to the world. We are happy that the UN have declared the day as International Day of Yoga and I hope the future generations would be able to have a healthy body and soul through practicing yoga," Sonowal said.

Lok Sabha MP from Guwahati and BJP vice president Bijoya Chakrabarty took part in the yoga performance at the veterinary college play ground.

"Yoga helps develop one's mind and body. The world has accepted the benefits of yoga and declared June 21 as the International day of yoga. With the whole world taking to yoga, there will more peace in the world now," she said.

Hundreds of schoolchildren from different schools in Assam's Kamrup district also participated in a yoga programme at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.

IANS