Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday led the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Odisha from Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
He was joined by Speaker Surama Padhy, ministers, MLAs, MPs, NITI Aayog officials, the chief secretary, senior government officers and approximately 15,000 denizens.
The event, organised by the Sports Department, also featured a live video address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Visakhapatnam, where he described yoga as a ‘pause button’ that humanity needs to breath, balance to become whole again. “Let this Yoga Day mark the beginning of Yoga for humanity 2.0 where inner peace becomes global policy. Yoga is a great personal discipline, also a system that takes us from “Me to We”, he said.
In his address here in Bhubaneswar, CM Majhi announced that yoga will be integrated into school curriculum and public health programmes to promote physical and mental well-being among students and people of the state. “We aim to make yoga accessible to all. By organizing workshops and raising awareness in schools, colleges, hostels, and sports centers, we strive to create a healthy, self-reliant, skilled, and empowered Odisha,” he said.
He further stated that yoga was India’s invaluable gift to the world and a cornerstone of its cultural heritage. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated yoga to global prominence within six months of taking office in May 2014. “Recognising its universal appeal, the United Nations declared 21 June as International Day of Yoga on 11 December 2014. PM Modi has played a big role in promoting Yoga globally,” he said.
Quoting the PM, Majhi called yoga “India’s software” and highlighted its role in transforming mental stress and negativity into creativity and inner peace, promoting physical health, intellectual clarity, emotional balance, and spiritual growth. He emphasised that yoga connects body, soul, and mind, guiding individuals toward a balanced and mindful life. “With more than a hundred countries participating in Yoga Day today, this is a moment of pride for every Indian. I am delighted to witness people from all walks of life embracing yoga with enthusiasm,” he added.
This year’s International Day of Yoga saw mass participation with more than 2 crore people taking part in yoga sessions across over 1 lakh locations in India. The central event was held at Visakhapatnam, where PM Modi performed the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) along with over 3 lakh participants, synchronised with more than 10 lakh other locations through the ‘Yoga Sangam’ initiative led by the Ministry of Ayush.
