Rourkela, 21 June 2025: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela observed the 11th International Day of Yoga with enthusiastic participation from students, faculty, staff, and campus residents.

This year’s celebrations were held under the global theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”

The event was organized by the Yoga and Natural Wellbeing Centre at NIT Rourkela in collaboration with the YogVidya Student Club. The one-day celebration comprised two sessions, each designed to promote awareness about the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga.

Session I: Early Morning Yoga Practice: The first session commenced with listening to a live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on the occasion of International Yoga Day 2025. It was then followed by ‘Common Yoga Protocol’, an energizing yoga practice led by Yoga Teacher Dr. Khageswar Ojha.

Session II: Inaugural Ceremony and Expert Talks: The formal inauguration of the event was held at the BB Auditorium, NITR. Prof. Saroj L. Samal, Professor-in-Charge of the Yoga and Wellness Centre, welcomed the attendees and expressed his delight at the growing interest in yoga among the student community. He informed that student teams had participated in the Open National Yogasana Sports Championship held at JP Hospital in March 2025. The Girls’ Team secured a Gold Medal in the Traditional Yogasana category, while the Boys’ Team earned a Bronze Medal in Rhythmic Yogasana, competing among over 800 participants from across India.

Inaugurating the event, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director of NIT Rourkela, encouraged the community to embrace yoga as a daily discipline. Prof. Rao reflected on the deeper philosophy of yoga, stating, “Unlike animals, the human brain is capable of reflecting on the past and anticipating the future. A healthy mind contributes to a healthy body, and meditation acts as its nourishment. If there’s one thing we must all learn to do well, it is to breathe mindfully and be conscious of what we feed both our body and mind.”

Also addressing the gathering were Prof. Niranjan Panda (Dean, Student Affairs), Prof. Rohan Dhiman (Registrar), Prof. Ramesh Kumar Mohapatra (Chairman, Extra Academic Activities Cell), and Prof. Binod Bihari Sahu (Co-PIC, Yoga Centre), who emphasized the importance of consistent practice and the positive shift in wellness culture at NIT Rourkela.As part of the session, yoga teachers Dr. Khageswar Ojha and Shri Batakrushna Sahoo were felicitated for their dedicated contributions to regular yoga training across the campus. Prizes were also awarded to the winners of yoga competitions organized for campus children and students earlier this month.

The session featured two keynote talks: “Yoga for World Peace” by Prof. Subash Chandra Dash (Head of the Sanskrit Department, Utkal University) and “Yoga – The Art to Discover a New Dimension” by Dr. Girija Sankar Das (Chief General Manager, SAIL Rourkela Steel Plant, and Faculty, Art of Living)

The event concluded with a Formation Yoga Performance by members of the Yoga Club, NIT Rourkela, showcasing the discipline and artistry involved in coordinated yogic expression. The performance was met with warm applause and appreciation from the audience.

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