Over 700 stretch it out at PU

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 21

Over 700 people took part in the third International Day of Yoga celebrations held at Panjab University here today. The event was marked by live telecast of the programme from Lucknow. It included the address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

It was then followed by a live yoga session of about an hour. Later, a Guinness world record attempt was made for maximum people hearing a lecture on diabetes at one time. The organisers informed that the attempt was being made all over the country.

People from various age groups and all walks of life participated in the event. Children as young as seven year olds and elderly people in their 70s attended the event. While the programme went smoothly by and large, lack of enough space for each participant was an issue.

Unlike in most other places where rows are formed in such a way that a participant is in the gap between two in front of him, participants at the PU were seated one behind the other. This meant that in case of asanas that were to be done lying down, people had to lie down at an angle and adjust so as to not get hit by somebody’s feet on their face.

Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Arun K Grover was present all throughout the event, but he did not perform yoga. PU Registrar GS Chadha was seen doing all asanas with ease. Refreshments were served even before the yoga session ended, which turned out to be a distraction for participants who then had a hard time keeping their eyes closed.

Yoga Day was also celebrated at DAV Model School, Sector 15, here. Principal Anuja Sharma motivated all to actively engage themselves in yoga asanas to remain physically, mentally and spiritually fit and healthy.