Chennai: This was no lazy Sunday. Several thousand people woke up early and reached outdoor spaces to perform yoga and mark the first International Day of Yoga. Conservative Chennai, which joined the rest of the nation in the ancient Indian cultural practice, saw many political leaders rub shoulders with yoga gurus and public in camaraderie for a cause. While Union minister for urban development M. Venkaiah Naidu participated in an event along with spiritualist Jaggi Vasudev at the YMCA grounds, Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan participated in several yoga events in Nagercoil (Kanyakumari district).
Around 5,000 people, mostly school and college students, participated in a yoga session organised here by the Art of Living Foundation at Pachaiyappa’s college ground. The students from nearly 20 colleges and six schools who also participated in this yogathan learnt and practiced Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) from Rudresh Kumar from Bengaluru, who holds the speed record for performing this asana.
The participants performed 25 sets of Surya Namaskar and thereafter undertook meditation.Thousands of people participated in the yoga sessions conducted by various organisations in different parts of the city including Marina Beach from 5.15 am and events went on till 8.30 am. Nearly 25,000 people, including Mr Venkaiah Naidu was said to have attended the free yoga session organised by Isha Foundation at YMCA grounds. The BJP members led by state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan also took part.
The Yoga Foundation of the Mahamaharishi Foundation Charitable Trust Mahayogam on Sunday embarked on creating a new record to enter the Limca Book of Records by performing non-stop yoga without food and rest for 30 hours. The record was being performed by 20 martial arts and yoga students of the foundation. It commenced at the Madras University Senate hall at 6 am and will end at noon on Monday. The event is also being organised by the physiology and experimental medicine department of the Madras Medical College and the physical education and yoga department of the Madras University. The feat was inaugurated by Madras University VC Prof R. Thandavan. The defence forces based in TN too organised yoga events. Archaeological Survey of India too observed the day.
