Lucknow : Lucknow University marked the 11th International Yoga Day with great enthusiasm under the guidance of Governor and Chancellor Anandiben Patel and leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Alok Kumar Rai. The event witnessed the participation of approximately 1,800 individuals at the main campus and around 700 at the second campus, showcasing a strong collective commitment to health and wellness.
The chief guests for the celebration were Anil Rastogi, renowned actor and alumnus of the university, and Sujit Kumar, an Olympian hockey player and also a proud alumnus of Lucknow University.
The event commenced with the broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message, followed by a structured yoga session adhering to the official Common Yoga Protocol. Participants engaged in various asanas including Tadasana, Padahastasana, Ardhachakrasana, Trikonasana, Dandasana, Bhadrasana, Vajrasana, Ushtrasana, Shashankasana, Uttan Mandukasana, Vakrasana, Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana, Setubandhasana, Pawanmuktasana, and Shavasana, along with breathing techniques like Kapalabhati, Nadi Shodhan, Sheetali, and Bhramari Pranayama.
A special session of Surya Namaskar was held from 8:00 to 8:10 AM, where participants performed 12 postures in a sequence 11 times in perfect unison, symbolizing the holistic power of the sun and yoga practice.
The program was anchored by Dr. Umesh Shukla from the Faculty of Yoga and Alternative Medicine. Faculty members and student instructors including Dr. Ishita Arora, Shobhit Singh, Shikhar Shukla, Manisha Nigam, Sudhakar Kumar, Asmita Yadav, Vyaksha Singh, Hansika, Ragini, Ankita, and Priyanshi Yadav led the yoga practices from three separate stages across the university premises.
Distinguished attendees included Vice Chancellor Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, actors and athletes Anil Rastogi and Sujit Kumar, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Manuka Khanna, Dean of Student Welfare Prof. V.K. Sharma, Chief Proctor Prof. Rakesh Dwivedi, Dean of Admissions Prof. Pankaj Mathur, Dean of Research Prof. M.M. Verma, Dean of Academics Prof. Geetanjali Mishra, CDC Dean Prof. Awadhesh Kumar, Athletic Association Secretary Prof. Ajay Arya, deans of various faculties, Controller of Examinations Vidyanand Tripathi, administrative officers, faculty, staff, and a large number of enthusiastic students.
The event not only celebrated India’s ancient tradition of yoga but also reinforced the university’s commitment to promoting holistic health, unity, and mindfulness in academic spaces.
