International Yoga Day: Ghaziabad lays out the mats for a healthier life

Ministers, district officials take part in events, ask residents to make yoga a daily habit

The International Yoga Day was celebrated with much enthusiasm across Ghaziabad on Wednesday. The main event was held at an engineering college where the attendees included district officials and public representatives. Programmes were also held at tehsil and block level offices, despite the early morning shower.

(Right) Union minister and Ghaziabad MP General (retired) V K Singh and Uttar Pradesh minister Suresh Khanna lead the yoga day celebrations at IMS Engineering College in Ghaziabad on Wednesday. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

The main event was held at IMS Engineering college premises near NH-24 as the original venue, Kavi Nagar Ramlila Ground, had to be changed due to heavy rain since Monday night.

Those who arrived with their mats included Union minister General (retired) VK Singh and UP minister Suresh Khanna, along with district magistrate Ministhy S and Kanchan Verma, GDA vice-chairperson.

“The schoolchildren put up a scintillating show. We were expecting a larger gathering had the rain not played spoilsport. Still, the programme was interesting and encouraging for people who wish to lead a healthier life,” Verma said.

General Singh said, “Meditation should also be practised along with yoga to attain health benefits. I advise the gathering to practice yoga every day.”

Nearly 200 residents of Olive County high-rise in Vasundhara celebrated the day with an early morning yoga event. The event organisers exhorted residents to take up yoga on a daily basis for gaining health benefits.

“Our residents were enthusiastic about the day and we had one yoga session on June 19. More than 200 residents from Windsor and Nova Apartment attended that event,” said CP Baliyan, the convener.

At Swarnjayanti Puram, the RWA federation also organised a four-day yoga training programme that ended on June 21.