Thousands brave rains to join yoga day celebrations in Goa

Braving torrential rains, nearly 90,000 students, thousands of state government officials, members of the armed forces as well as yoga enthusiasts participated in the International Yoga Day celebrations in Goa on Sunday.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who led the yoga day celebrations at an indoor stadium on the outskirts of the state capital, told reporters that yoga was a tonic for life and it comes with no baggage.

"Everyone must take advantage of yoga. The level of awareness which the International Yoga Day has created is unprecedented. We must take the spirit of yoga forward," Parsekar said after leading yoga exercise performances and guiding over a couple of thousand yoga enthusiasts.

Similar yoga performances were held in all sub district headquarters, schools and public community centres across the state in which apart from members of the general public students also participated.

"We haven't taken a head count yet, but we expect the students to be around 90,000 all over Goa... A follow up to International Yoga Day we have resolved to create more awareness about yoga in our sports curriculum," Sports Director V.M. Prabhudessai told IANS.

Over 1,500 army personnel too participated in the celebrations at the three army camps camp located in the state at Bambolim, Ponda and Margao.