Thousands of people, including students, government officials, yoga practitioners and members of the public, participated in the 12th International Yoga Day celebrations organised across Ballari, Vijayanagara and Koppal districts on Sunday, with speakers highlighting the importance of making yoga a part of everyday life for physical and mental well-being.

In Ballari, the district administration, the Zilla Panchayat and the AYUSH Department organised a large-scale yoga programme at the S.G. Law College grounds under the theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”.

Participants performed Surya Namaskar, Pranayama and various yoga postures in a synchronised manner.

A unique feature of the celebrations in Ballari was the integration of voter awareness with yoga.

The district administration and the District SVEEP Committee used the occasion to create awareness about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

A team of yoga practitioners led by Mahesh Babu of the Department of Yoga, Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University, demonstrated yoga postures resembling the letters “SIR”, urging eligible citizens to enrol in electoral rolls and rectify errors in voter records.

The initiative drew considerable public attention.

Addressing the gathering, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Zubair said that the Election Commission has launched the Special Intension Revision exercise to prepare updated and error-free electoral rolls and appealed to citizens to cooperate with Booth Level Officers by providing the necessary information.

Municipal Commissioner P.S. Manjunath urged people to actively participate in the electoral rolls revision process to ensure preparation of a comprehensive and accurate voters list.

District-level officers, students and members of the public participated in the event. The Forest Department distributed saplings to participants.

In Vijayanagara district, more than 2,000 yoga enthusiasts took part in a grand Yoga Day programme organised jointly by the district administration, the Zilla Panchayat, the AYUSH Department, the City Municipal Council and various organisations.

Speaking on the occasion, Additional Deputy Commissioner E. Balakrishna said that good health is the greatest asset in life and encouraged people to adopt yoga as a daily habit.

“No matter how much wealth a person accumulates, only good health will stand by them in old age. Yoga is essential for maintaining both physical and mental well-being,” he said.

Municipal Council president N. Rupesh Kumar said that yoga should not be viewed merely as a form of physical exercise but as a way of life capable of preventing lifestyle diseases and improving overall quality of life.

Yoga trainer Balachandra Sharma led the participants through various yoga practices during the event.

At the district-level Yoga Mahotsav at the Koppal Taluk Stadium, Member of Parliament K. Rajashekar Basavaraj Hitnal described yoga as a powerful means of uniting the body and mind and connecting human beings with nature.

Highlighting India’s contribution to the world through yoga, he said that the ancient practice has gained global recognition after the United Nations adopted June 21 as International Yoga Day with support from 177 countries.

“Yoga is not merely about physical flexibility or weight reduction, it strengthens immunity, relieves stress and promotes mental peace. It should become an integral part of our daily lives,” he said.

MLC Hemalatha Nayak said that yoga symbolises India’s rich cultural heritage. It has attained worldwide popularity through sustained efforts to promote its benefits.

The programme also featured special yoga demonstrations by children, which received appreciation from the audience.

The AYUSH Department distributed medicinal giloy (Amrutha Balli) cuttings among participants to encourage healthy living.

Senior officials, public representatives, students and members of yoga organisations participated in the celebrations organised across the three districts.