Assam takes to the mat to mark Yoga Day

GUWAHATI: The first International Day of Yoga was observed in the state on Sunday with people from diverse backgrounds coming together to practice the ancient exercises. Participants included blind school students, jail inmates and cancer patients beside the regular ones.
Yoga programme sessions were organized from both government and non-government quarters.More than 30 visually impaired students from the Guwahati Blind School took part in a yoga session led by their principal at a programme organized by a yoga group here on Sunday.
The department of health and family welfare observed the event at Sarusajai Indoor Stadium. More than 500 participants, mostly school and college students, followed their instructors on stage in performing different asanas.
“Yoga is important for all. The participation was quite good. It was good to see many young people taking part,” said Dhaneshwar Kalita, principal of Ayurvedic College, who led the session at the stadium.
Assam and Nagaland governor P B Acharya was present at two separate events , at a programme organized by the North East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC) and at another organized by Nehru Yuvak Kendra Sangathan at Khanapara Veterinary Field.
About 318 inmates at the Barpeta District Jail performed yoga asanas under the guidance of four yoga instructors.
Cancer patients availing treatment at the Dr B Borroah Cancer Institute joined others on the occasion in performing yoga asanas. Besides the terminally ill patients, doctors, employees and students of the institute also took part. Pastor Aziz-ul-Haque of the Guwahati Baptist Church spoke about the importance of yoga in Sunday prayer mass services.