The diocesan schools had announced postponing the event by one day since it was not possible for students who attend church services to come to school on Sunday. At a post-cabinet meeting on Friday, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had permitted schools to hold yoga camps either on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. He had also assured that schools would not face action if they failed to do so.
Meanwhile, as per a circular issued by Education Department last Friday, schools also had to participate in a week-long cleanliness drive that started on Monday. “The students were asked to pick dry waste lying on the ground and surroundings. We did not give them a heavy task,” said a Curtorim-based school teacher.
Many schools have objected to the cleaning of toilets and surroundings, which is scheduled on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, braving torrential rains on Sunday, nearly 50,000 students, hundreds of State government officials, members of the armed forces as well as yoga enthusiasts participated in the International Yoga Day celebrations, following a call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Panjim witnessed voluntary participation of yoga enthusiasts, from schools to open grounds. Nearly 7000 students from various educational institutions in Panjim participated in yoga at various places including at the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) ground, Goa University, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjiee stadium and other open areas. The large student follow-up was, despite Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s announcement the celebration as voluntary.
The only school that held the yoga celebrations in its premises was the Dr K B Hedgewar High School which recently shifted to Cujira, Bambolim. Around 100 students along with their parents participated in the drill. The sessions were held from 9 am to 10 am.
“We had not made yoga compulsory for the schools but the response was good,” said Education director G Bhat.
Goa University observed International Yoga Day with Dr Sitakant Ghanekar delivering a lecture on the subject on its campus.
A special session on yoga for government officials and students was also held at Raj Bhavan. Addressing the crowd, Governor Mridula Sinha appealed to students to make fruitful use of the gift of life and fill it with health, happiness and positives.
She said one should give time to oneself with simple exercises of concentration such as yoga, as healthy body and mind are essential for a person to make his life meaningful. Sinha urged students to take the message to society and inculcate it in as many minds as possible. “We have derived yoga from nature and we should keep this treasure for posterity,” she added.
Government officers, including secretaries, additional secretaries were part of the yoga function held at the secretariat. Following directions from the Directorate of Health Services primary health centres, urban health centres and community health centres held yoga sessions at the taluka-level.
In a function held at secretariat, a commemorative philatelic special postal cover on first International Yoga Day was released by Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza.
Tourism Department used the opportunity to market locations such as beaches and hinterlands for holding yoga sessions and huge crowds, including locals, domestic and foreign tourists, were seen early morning on the beaches.
