Lucknow bends over backwards for International Yoga Day

All roads in Lucknow on Friday lead to several parks and yoga studios with hundreds of fitness freak Lucknowites eagerly participating in International Yoga Day celebrations. The biggest celebrations took place at Raj Bhawan where apart from UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Governor Ram Naik, several bureaucrats and officials of the district administration, local police, politicians and locals participated in the 5th International Yoga Day celebrations.
WATER BABIES: A few men in the city tried their hands at aqua yoga (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui, Aditya Yadav and Vishnu Jaiswal)
Apart from the yoga aasans performed by city folk, another highlight of the events were the paintings themed around the day which were on display. “I really loved doing yoga today. I think everybody should include a few yoga aasans in their routine. It is our thing and we should feel proud that our Prime Minister has given yoga a recognition on an international level,” said folk singer Malini Awasthi, who came at Raj Bhawan with her husband Awanish Kumar Awasthy, Chief Secretary, UP.
(L) Celeste Evangelina Shrivastava performing anulom vilom with her toddler Eliam Ihan Shrivastava (R) No kidding on International Yoga Day (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui, Aditya Yadav and Vishnu Jaiswal)
Other important venues for the celebrations were the Lohia park and Janeshwar Mishra Park. Interestingly, a few yoga enthusiasts brought with them their kids too which made a picture perfect moment for the shutterbugs and even for the people doing yoga. All eyes remained on Celeste Evangelina Shrivastava who performed pranayam with her toddler Eliam Ihan in her baby carrier.
Yoga camp organized by 3 UP Naval Unit NCC, Lucknow at Unit Boat Pool, led by Commander Wakil Ahmad – Commanding Officer (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui, Aditya Yadav and Vishnu Jaiswal)
Performing the most hatt ke aasans were a few men in the city who did aqua yoga at a five star hotel in Gomti Nagar. Conducted by yoga expert Nitin Doiphode, the men had a gala time doing yoga in a swimming pool.
(L) Sanyukta Bhatiya (R) Dinesh Sahgal (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui, Aditya Yadav and Vishnu Jaiswal)
(L) Shishir Singh (R) Awanish Kumar Awasthy (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui, Aditya Yadav and Vishnu Jaiswal)
A yoga camp was organised at Lalit Kala Akademi (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui, Aditya Yadav and Vishnu Jaiswal)
Yoga enthusiasts at Lohia park (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui, Aditya Yadav and Vishnu Jaiswal)
Officials of the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation also celebrated the Yoga Day (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui, Aditya Yadav and Vishnu Jaiswal)
(L) Kaushal Raj Sharma and Kalanidhi Naithani (R) OP Singh (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui, Aditya Yadav and Vishnu Jaiswal)
Ladies practicing yoga at an army stadium in the Cantt area (BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui, Aditya Yadav and Vishnu Jaiswal)