New Delhi: “I enjoy doing yoga with my mother. I do it every day at home and at school too,” six-year-old Myra said, sitting cross-legged on her mat at Lodhi Garden. As the city eased into a warm but not so unpleasant Sunday morning, Delhi’s green spaces transformed into vibrant arenas, with people from different walks of life celebrating International Yoga Day. From four-year-old children trying their first postures to senior citizens in their sixties practising with enthusiasm, the city witnessed a colourful display of fitness, mindfulness and togetherness.At Lodhi Garden, the celebrations began around 5.30 am, with the fresh morning air setting the mood for the event. Most participants arrived dressed in white, while others chose colourful outfits. People were seen clicking pictures and posing with their partners and families, carrying yoga mats and preparing themselves for the session. Parents helped their children settle down, while elderly participants joined with the same energy and enthusiasm. As instructions echoed across the lawns, participants slowly settled into rows and began their morning routine.Myra, who had arrived with her mother, carefully followed the instructions. Her mother said yoga has become a part of their daily routine, as Myra also practises it at home in their nearby park and participates in yoga activities at her school.The lawns of Shanti Path, Kartavya Path and other NDMC locations, too, were filled with colourful mats as more than 6,000 people participated across multiple venues under the theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing” in coordination with the ministry of Ayush.For many elderly participants, yoga was more than just an exercise routine. Senior citizens said the practice helps them stay active, maintain balance and keep their minds calm. “Yoga keeps me energetic. It helps me stay positive and connected with myself,” said one senior participant.Sixty-year-old Dharmendra Singh has been practising yoga for over a decade. He said his journey with yoga began when he was 37, after his mother fell ill and a doctor advised her to include yoga in her routine for better health. “Initially, I started doing yoga with my mother just to support her and motivate her. Slowly, it became a part of my own life. Now, I practise it every day and come for walking and yoga sessions with my wife and daughter. Yoga has helped us stay active and healthy,” Singh said.Young participants, too, shared that yoga has become a way to manage stress and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Many said that in today’s fast-paced life, yoga gives them a moment of peace and helps improve focus.Union minister of health and family welfare and chemicals & fertilizers J P Nadda participated in the yoga programme at Shanti Path along with the secretary, ministry of Ayush, and volunteers from Art of Living. Minister of state for jal shakti Raj Bhushan Chaudhary attended the programme at Lodhi Garden.
