International Yoga Day 2023 in Sonbhadra Highlights 'One Earth One Health' Theme

Celebration Overview

Sonbhadra district marked the 9th edition of International Yoga Day on June 21, 2023 with a sprawling outdoor session at the banks of the Rihand Reservoir. Organized by the District Administration in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Yoga Mission, the event attracted an estimated 3,200 participants ranging from school children and university students to senior citizens and local entrepreneurs.

Chief District Magistrate Anil Kumar opened the ceremony with a short address on the "One Earth One Health" mantra, emphasizing how yoga can serve as a bridge between personal health and planetary sustainability. The program was flanked by the presence of Shri Ramesh Singh, Member of Legislative Assembly, and a delegation of officials from the Ministry of AYUSH.

Program Details and Key Activities

The day unfolded in three segments:

• Sunrise Sessions: Early morning yoga sequences focused on Pranayama techniques designed to improve lung capacity and stress management. Local health workers demonstrated how regular breathing exercises can reduce cardiovascular risks.
• Environmental Workshops: After the main asana routine, environmental experts conducted talks on waste reduction, water conservation, and the impact of pollution on respiratory health. Participants were encouraged to plant saplings in the surrounding area as a symbolic act of nurturing the earth.
• Cultural Performances: Folk dancers and school choirs performed pieces that highlighted the interdependence of humans and nature, reinforcing the "One Earth One Health" narrative through art.

Special attention was given to inclusive participation. Adaptive yoga modules were tailored for differently‑abled attendees, while a designated lane allowed senior citizens to practice gentler postures.

To bring the national "100 Days, 100 Cities, 100 Organizations" initiative to the grassroots, a local NGO, GreenSteps, announced a pledge to conduct weekly yoga‑and‑clean‑up drives across ten villages in the district. The moves align with the broader "Ocean Ring of Yoga" program, which aims to synchronize yoga events worldwide to create a symbolic ring of health around the planet.

Feedback collected via on‑site surveys indicated that 87% of participants felt more motivated to incorporate daily yoga practice, and 72% reported a heightened awareness of environmental issues after the workshops.

The Sonbhadra edition of International Yoga Day thus served not only as a health‑boosting exercise but also as a platform for community education on sustainability, echoing the central theme that the wellbeing of individuals and the planet are inseparable.