Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday urged people to practice yoga daily for better physical and mental well-being as over a lakh citizens participated in International Yoga Day celebrations across Goa.Sawant, along with Union minister of state Shripad Naik, students and others, performed yoga at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Bambolim. The programme included guided yoga sessions and demonstrations by instructors.Sawant said the ancient Indian practice has emerged as a global movement and a cultural gift from India. Referring to this year’s theme, “Yoga for Healthy Aging”, he said yoga promotes preventive healthcare, physical fitness, mental well-being, emotional balance and inner harmony.“Yoga is not merely exercise, it is a way of life that promotes harmony of the mind, body and spirit. Yoga empowers every section of society with health, discipline, balance and inner strength,” Sawant said, urging people to adopt yoga as a daily practice for a healthier Goa and India.Registrations for the International Yoga Day celebrations in Goa crossed the one lakh mark.A total of 1,230 venues were registered by Patanjali Yog Samiti, NGOs and other organisations. In addition, the department of sports facilitated activities at 12 venues. Several other yoga sessions and events were also conducted across Goa under the aegis of the department of Ayush.At Canacona, 269 people, including students, staff and parents, participated in Yoga Day celebrations and pledged to make yoga an integral part of daily life.At Tapobhoomi, Kundaim, the 12th International Yoga Day was celebrated in the presence of Padma Shri Sadguru Brahmeshanand Acharya Swamiji as part of the Gurupeetharohan silver jubilee year celebrations. The event was jointly organised by Shree Datta Padmanabh Peeth and Sadguru Yoga Gurukul, along with several affiliated organisations.Brahmeshanand described yoga as an ancient science gifted by India’s sages and said the Prime Minister had successfully presented it before the United Nations, leading to its worldwide acceptance. He suggested that Goa be declared a “Yoga State” and called for wider integration of yoga into daily life across beaches, temples, offices, schools and colleges.Yoga Day programmes were also held at Lok Bhavan, railway stations, airports, temples, educational institutions and govt offices across Goa.
