Nagpur: Thousands of residents rolled out their yoga mats across Nagpur on Sunday as the city celebrated the 12th International Day of Yoga with mass sessions, acrobatic demonstrations, environmental initiatives and an anti-drug awareness campaign.The city’s main Yoga Day event was held at Yeshwant Stadium, jointly organised by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the district administration. From Surya Namaskars to human pyramids and tree plantation pledges, the celebrations reflected this year’s theme, “Yoga for Healthy Aging”.Mayor Neeta Thakre inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp in the presence of deputy mayor Leela Hathibed, standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare, municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar and several other dignitaries.Citizen Krushna Bhende said, “I have been practising yoga for nearly 30-35 years. I’m a member of Janardan Swami Yogabhyasi Mandal. This event, organised by the mandal in collaboration with NMC, has been greatly enriching. I believe every school should have at least one yoga period each week to instill the values of good health and tradition.” Another participant said that the event helped her overcome fear of yoga. “I was quite worried that I wouldn’t be able to perform different asanas. However, they were not very complex. I was able to completely understand the instructions and perform each asana with considerable ease,” she said.Gorakhnath Sunil Sirsikar, a member of the Janardan Swami Yogabhyasi Mandal, Nagpur, said, “We have been organising this event for the past 12 years to bring people of various backgrounds and age groups under the banner of Yoga. This year around 5,000 participants attended the event.”A spectacular display by youngsters from the Nagpur District Yoga Association was one of the highlights of the event. Under the guidance of Anil Mohgaonkar, participants showcased advanced yoga techniques and formed a human pyramid, drawing applause from the audience. Adding a unique touch to the event was the innovative Chakrasana Race, organised under the guidance of Gajanan Ladi of the Chakrasana Sports Association. Participants covered a designated distance while maintaining the challenging wheel pose, moving forward with the support of their hands and feet.As part of Nagpur Police’s ongoing Operation Thunder campaign against drug abuse, attendees took a pledge to remain drug-free.Among those honoured during the event were Green Vigil Foundation founder Kaustav Chatterjee. Surbhi Jaiswal, and members of Vrukshit Foundation, including Lokesh Thota and Yash Sarpotdar, were honoured for their role in cleaning the historic Sonegaon Amrai forest. Yoga athletes who won medals at international competitions were also felicitated. Coach Sandesh Khare and athletes Kushal Ingole, Yagnesh Wankhede, Om Dehankar and Nisarga Bhagat were honoured for their achievements.
