Rourkela, June 21: Observing the theme "Yoga for Self and Society," the NIT Rourkela community celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga 2024 on Friday.

Organized by the Yoga and Natural Wellbeing Centre at NIT Rourkela, with support from the YogVidya Student Club, this one-day event featured three sessions.

The first session began with performing Yoga Asanas, followed by a live telecast of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India's address on the occasion. Dr Khageswar Ojha (Yoga Teacher) and Shri Batakrushna Sahoo (Yoga Teacher) led the yoga session for the participants.

The second session of the celebrations featured an inaugural ceremony at the BB Auditorium of NIT Rourkela to mark International Yoga Day 2024.

Prof. Saroj L Samal, the Professor in Charge of the Yoga and Wellness Center, welcomed the audience, stating, "At NIT Rourkela, yoga is a fundamental part of our community’s well-being. Throughout the year, we have held weekend yoga classes under the guidance of trained instructors. Yoga provides a pathway to unite body, mind, and spirit, enhancing our efficiency, excellence, and overall quality of life."

Inaugurating the event, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, Director of NIT Rourkela, remarked, "We can feel a significant difference in our minds and bodies with a daily routine of simply sitting and breathing. In today's fast-paced world, many young people face high blood pressure and cardiac issues due to unhealthy lifestyles. Incorporating yoga into daily routines can be highly beneficial, as it promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and improves cardiovascular health. This Yoga Day, I advise everyone to stretch, breathe, and experience the power of yoga, and to promote it in our culture."

Explaining the need for yoga, Prof. Subhankar Paul, Chairman of the Value Added and Extra Academic Activities Cell, said, “NIT Rourkela offers courses like NCC, NSS, Physical Education, Value Education and Ethics and various other courses including Foreign Language, Self Defence, Music, Sustainable Living etc for undergraduate students in line with the New Education policy 2020. Yoga being among one such course aims to promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being emphasising the importance of Yoga in daily life.”

During the session, Prof. S. Jena, Dean of Student Affairs, felicitated the winners of various competitions held to observe the day. Distributing prizes and awards for Yoga Asanas, the Yoga Quiz, and speech competitions, he said, “I congratulate our Girl Students Yoga Team for securing third prize in the Inter NIT Yoga competition held at NIT Jamshedpur this year. We aspire for healthy minds and healthy bodies, and yoga is the path to achieve both. With this year's theme being 'Yoga for All and Yoga for Society,' I encourage everyone to collectively foster a society where yoga is a daily routine.”

Registrar Prof. Rohan Dhiman also attended the event and encouraged students to promote the importance of yoga within the campus community. He noted that since its inception in 2015, the International Day of Yoga has evolved into a global movement promoting holistic well-being and harmony.

Dr. Binod B. Sahu, Co-Prof. In Charge of Yoga and Natural Well-being, concluded the inaugural session with a vote of thanks and suggesting Yoga as a lifelong companion on one’s journey of self-discovery and societal well-being.

The other sessions of the day included guest lectures by Dr. Biswajit Mohapatra on 'Role of Self-Healthcare in Enhancing Yoga Practice' and by Prof. Patitapaban Das - on 'YOGA- The Art of Systematic Subtraction'. The evening session featured a talk titled 'Password to Unlock Happiness and Creativity' by Dr. Girija Sankar Das, an Art of Living teacher.

The programme concluded with a yoga performance by the NIT Rourkela Yoga Club students. Students of Kendriya Vidyalaya-NIT Rourkela also celebrated the day by practicing yoga asanas and learning about their benefits.

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