Month-long Yogandhra drive concludes on grand note

Vijayawada: International Yoga Day was celebrated on a grand scale across Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, marking the conclusion of the month-long ‘Yogandhra' campaign initiated by state govt to promote wellness and a healthy lifestyle.

The main event for the 11th International Yoga Day was hosted in Visakhapatnam, while similar large-scale events were held at all district headquarters. In the Amaravati capital region alone, officials estimated a turnout of around two lakh participants.

A major highlight was the mega celebration at Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in Vijayawada, organised by the NTR district administration, where nearly 10,000 people took part. Police commissioner Rajasekhar Babu and district collector Dr G Lakshmisha actively participated. He emphasised the benefits of simple 45-minute daily yoga sessions, particularly in managing chronic illnesses.

Yoga activities were also conducted along the dedicated ‘Yoga Street' on BRTS Road, which had been operational for the past month as part of the campaign.

At Ambedkar Memorial Park, about 1,000 NCC cadets from the 17th battalion demonstrated yoga asanas in a coordinated event. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh high court premises saw enthusiastic participation from judges, staff, and legal professionals.

Vijayawada youth organised a session at Gandhi Stupa on Gandhi Hill, showcasing advanced yoga poses. Similarly, Dr P Krishnaiah, chairman of the AP Pollution Control Board, led a yoga session with staff at Municipal Park in APIIC Colony, where participants were served naturopathic snacks under the guidance of Dr Mantena Satyanarayana Raju.

Additionally, yoga was practiced in schools across the state, where students and teachers began their day at 7 am with an hour of yoga to mark the occasion.