Information Technology city Bengaluru responded in a major way to the call of International Yoga day on Tuesday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Union Ministers HN Ananatha Kumar, DV Sadananada Gowda, film actress Bipasha Basu bended to the twists and turns of Yoga along with thousands of people from all walks of life at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
Apart from this, thousands of people from all walks of life, including children, in Bengaluru woke up early on Tuesday and performed Yoga exercises across the city under a cloudy sky, marking the second year of the International Yoga Day.
Though a normal working day, the annual event made young and old, men and women flock to neighborhood parks and playgrounds, while hundreds assembled in the famous Cubbon Park and lalbagh botanical garden to perform various Yoga asanas (exercises) on mats.
“I have been practicing yoga since the past two years under a trainer to be fit physically and mentally. Though I am 68 years old and diabetic, daily yoga exercises are helping me withstand the stress and strain that comes with duties and responsibilities of being a Chief Minister,” Siddaramaiah said in Kannada.
Extending his Government’s support to the global event, the CM had directed State-run and private schools and colleges to hold Yoga class daily so that it could become a life-long habit for the younger generation.
“From experience I can assure you that one-hour yoga daily keeps us fresh, active and stress-free for the rest of 23 hours in a day. It is a free exercise with healthy rewards for life. As Yoga is a universal practice, it can be done by all irrespective of religion, caste, creed and nationality,” Siddaramaiah asserted.
Celebrity Bipasha Basu demonstrated forms of Yoga postures to make the audience repeat them. State Ministers KJ George, UT Khader and TB Jayachandra and senior officials of the State health and education departments participated in the event.
Similar events were organised across the State and in one of them Former Chief Minister and BJP State President BS Yediyurappa also joined the people in the mat performing simple yoga postures.
Several organisations, including IT companies and NGOs too held yoga exercises with a large number gathering in different venues in the city. The Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated at various Army Units in Bengaluru.
At the Headquarters Karnataka and Kerala Sub Area the Yoga was conducted by Colonel Anjani Kumar in which a large number of Officers, JCOs and Jawans participated.