Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Saturday that the state government is working to incorporate yoga into the school curriculum and public health initiatives, highlighting its role in fostering a healthy, self-sufficient, and efficient India. Speaking at a state-level event for International Yoga Day at Kalinga Stadium, Majhi emphasised that yoga is more than a physical exercise; it activates the body, mind, and soul. The event, organized by Odisha’s Sports and Youth Affairs Department, saw attendance from over 10,000 people, including ministers, lawmakers, bureaucrats, students, and women. “In Odisha, we are making yoga available to everyone. We organise awareness campaigns on yoga in schools, colleges, hostels and sporting centres. We can also include yoga in school curriculum and public health programmes,” the chief minister stated. Majhi highlighted that these awareness programmes encourage people to lead healthier lives. While yoga has been a long-standing practice in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought it international recognition after taking office in 2014. His efforts led to the United Nations declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day. The chief minister reiterated that yoga is “not just a physical exercise, but something that keeps the body, mind, and soul active.” “Yoga is a medium to attain physical, intellectual, mental and spiritual fulfilment. It is beneficial for human bodies,” he added. This year’s International Yoga Day theme, ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health,’ underscores the intrinsic link between personal well-being and the planet’s health. “It shows how the ancient yoga practice nourishes not only the body and mind but also nature and promotes a harmonious lifestyle that respects all living beings,” Majhi noted. During the event, the culture department presented the traditional Gotipu dance. Renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand sculpture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing Ustrasana (Camel Pose) on Puri beach.