Thousands of people participated in third International Yoga Day events organised at various places in Punjab, Haryana and their joint capital, Chandigarh on Wednesday.
In Chandigarh, the main event was held at the Sector 17 Plaza where scores of people turned up to do yoga.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Punjab Governor and Union Territory Administrator VP Singh Badnore, and Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher joined nearly 3,000 people in the Yoga Day event.
On the occasion, JP Nadda said, “Yoga is our ancient discipline which helps strength mind and intellect. Yoga is good for purity of body and mind and encourages healthy lifestyle”.
UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore said yoga leads the body to healthy development of mind and soul.
Besides Chandigarh Police, various NGO’s including Patanjali, Art of living, College for Yoga Education and Health Sector-23, Brahmrishi Yoga Training College Sector-19, Brahm Kumaris, Yoga Federation of India, Chandigarh, Chandigarh Yoga Sabha, International Naturopathy organization, Bihar School of Yoga for Physical and Mental Health, Red Cross, Chandigarh Yoga Association, Himalayan Yoga & Sachitta Yoga participated in the yoga session.
In addition to the main celebrations at Plaza Sector-17, yoga sessions were also held at Sukhna lake by NSS representatives, at Burail Jail by Yoga Federation of India, at Cricket stadium by Sports Department, at Snehalaya and 38 government schools of Chandigarh by AYUSH Department and in various parks of Chandigarh.
last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had performed yoga in a mega event at the Capitol Complex in which more than 30,000 people participated.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Punjab, which has a Congress Government, a few functions were held on Wednesday in Amritsar, ludhiana, Jalandhar and Bathinda. While Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan participated in a function held in Amritsar, Union Minister and SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal took part in function in Bathinda.