15-Day Yogandhra Festival Set To Begin in NTR District
The collector said a thematic yoga programme involving police personnel would be held on the Vijayawada BRTS Road on June 7.
Vijayawada: Preparations have been completed in NTR district for the 15-day Yogandhra-2026 celebrations, which will be conducted from June 7 to June 21 as part of the state government's flagship initiative to promote a healthy society and popularise yoga among people of all ages.
Addressing a press conference at Vijayawada on Friday, NTR district collector Dr G. Lakshmisha, along with police commissioner S.V. Rajasekhar Babu, additional CP K.G.V. Saritha and officials from coordinating departments, said the programme was aimed at achieving the goals of Swarna Andhra and Aarogya Andhra by making yoga a daily habit in every household.
The collector said a thematic yoga programme involving police personnel would be held on the Vijayawada BRTS Road on June 7. Special yoga sessions have also been scheduled at the Holy Sangamam on June 10 and Berm Park on June 13. Daily yoga sessions will be conducted at 6 am on the BRTS Road, with participation from farmers, women, youth, doctors, workers, students, sportspersons, senior citizens and teachers.
Yoga activities will also be organised in villages, wards, temples, schools, colleges, government offices, parks and playgrounds across the district. A district-level programme will be held on June 21, while the state-level event is scheduled on the Krishna River West Bypass Road and is expected to be attended by the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and other dignitaries.
Dr Lakshmisha said the district has 300 master trainers and over 5,000 yoga instructors to support the campaign. He appealed to public representatives and citizens to actively participate and make the programme successful.
The collector also announced yoga competitions from village to state level. Village and ward-level contests under the theme "Yoga for All – Grassroots Wellness" will be held from June 7 to 9. Winners will advance through mandal, district and state levels. Competitions will include asana and pranayama demonstrations, synchronised group yoga, yoga quizzes and slogan contests in junior, young and senior categories, with separate events for men and women.
Police commissioner Rajasekhar Babu said yoga could play a significant role in promoting mental well-being and crime prevention. He said yoga camps were being organised for identified ganja users under the "Dandhayatra 2.0" anti-drug campaign across 28 police station limits to help them reintegrate into society.
