More than 10 lakh people are expected to participate in International Yoga Day programmes across Karnataka on Sunday (June 21) as the State government seeks to promote yoga as a regular health practice.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday (June 20), Health Minister U.T. Khader said the 12th International Day of Yoga would be observed under the theme, ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’.

The State-level programme will be held on the Vidhana Soudha premises from 7 a.m. Around 2,000 yoga practitioners, students, volunteers and members of the public are expected to participate in a mass yoga demonstration based on the Common Yoga Protocol.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will inaugurate the programme.

Nitya Yoga

Mr. Khader said the government had planned a series of activities under a year-long initiative titled ‘Nitya Yoga’. “Special yoga camps will be organised throughout the year at AYUSH institutions across the State,” he said.

Yoga activities will be conducted at AYUSH institutions, educational institutions, community centres and healthcare facilities. Programmes have been designed for women, children, youth and senior citizens with the aim of integrating yoga into daily life.

As part of efforts to take yoga to rural areas, ‘Grameena Yoga’ programmes will be conducted throughout the year at 360 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across the State.

100-day countdown campaign

The Department of AYUSH has completed a 100-day countdown campaign leading up to Yoga Day. As part of the campaign, 12 national-level yoga competitions were organised in association with the Government Ayurveda Research Centre, Mysuru, drawing participation from students of more than 100 colleges across 16 States.

Social media-based yoga competitions aimed at engaging young people attracted more than 50,000 participants, Mr. Khader said.

Several thematic conferences are also being organised as part of the celebrations, including programmes on ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, ‘Science and Yoga’, ‘Cancer and Yoga’ and ‘Cardio Yoga’. These conferences will examine the role of yoga in healthy ageing, disease prevention, rehabilitation and cardiovascular health.

Schools across Karnataka are also conducting yoga quizzes, essay-writing, slogan-writing, drawing, painting and rangoli competitions. More than 25,000 students are expected to participate in these activities.

The State government also plans to expand the Mysuru Yoga Hub initiative to other districts, with the aim of promoting long-term community engagement with yoga and wellness practices, he added.