Hyderabad strikes a pose in unison on International Day of Yoga at Gachibowli Stadium

Hyderabad: Over 5,500 people came together at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli to mark the International Day of Yoga in a grand celebration on Friday. The event saw enthusiastic participation from children, medical college students, sportspersons, and members of the public from different age groups and sections of society.

Among the participants were about 500 students from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) in Maheshwaram, Palamakula, Kismatpur, and Kandkur. Around 50 sportspersons from the Gachibowli sports centre also joined in the celebrations, along with a few hundred students from Gandhi, Osmania, and other medical colleges.

A photo exhibition featuring various yoga postures was set up at the venue around 6 am before the main proceedings began. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address from Visakhapatnam was streamed live on LED screens installed in the stadium, drawing the attention of the attendees. Many participants shared how yoga became a vital part of their daily lives, helping them maintain both physical and mental health.

Vishnu Vardhan, an archer from the Gachibowli centre, said, “Yoga and practice are part of our schedule. We do it every day for archery to improve concentration, flexibility, and posture.” N. Akhila, a Class 6 student of KGBV Maheshwaram, said, “I’ve been doing yoga for five years now. It helps with fitness, health, and mental strength. I like the Vrikshasana pose because it helps in physical balance and focus.”

Dr K Bhuvneshwari and Dr M Srujana, both studying BNYS (Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences) at Nature Cure Hospital, Begumpet, said, “We practise yoga every day. It is relaxing, calms the mind, and makes your day bright. We’ve been part of this programme for years, and the number of participants keeps increasing. Earlier, we were unaware of yoga’s benefits, but through our course, we realised naturopathy and yoga have fewer side effects and are very effective.”

Health minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, who was present at the event, emphasised the role of yoga in modern life. “Yoga is not just an exercise; it is a wonderful tool that unites the body, mind, and soul,” he said. “With today’s hectic lifestyles, problems like blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and kidney issues are rising. Even those earning crores lack peace of mind. Yoga is the best solution. Everyone should make it a part of their life.”

The minister said 630 yoga teachers were already appointed across the state, with the recruitment of another 264 underway. “We are conducting daily yoga classes at health subcentres. In the past year, five lakh people were introduced to yoga. We are promoting yoga education in all schools and colleges. A postgraduate course in naturopathy and yogic sciences is also being introduced. More programmes will be organised in the future to bring yoga closer to the people,” he added.

As part of the celebrations, dignitaries released balloons into the sky, symbolising the spirit of wellness and unity. Elsewhere in the city, about 50 people performed yoga at Mushkin Cheruvu in Narsingi, in an event organised by the Dhruvansh Foundation.

Iteeshree, an IT employee who took part in the lakeside session, shared her experience: “It felt really nice. The meditation helped me feel stress-free. I focused on my breathing, and we did the baby pose. I used to go for walks daily, but this session, in the lap of nature with birds chirping and many enthusiastic people around, was truly motivating.”