Vijayawada witnessed a massive turnout as over 5,000 individuals, including police personnel, yoga enthusiasts, and more than 1,000 participants from the city's anti-drug rehabilitation initiative, took part in a mass yoga session on BRTS Road on Sunday. The event marked the commencement of Yogandhra-2026 in NTR district.
Launch of Two-Week Yoga Campaign
The session was led by City Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu and attended by Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha. It signaled the start of a two-week yoga campaign leading up to International Yoga Day on June 21. Similar programs were organized across Vijayawada, with civic authorities reporting participation by thousands of residents at sessions held in parks and public spaces.
Integration of Drug Rehabilitation Efforts
Addressing the gathering, the police commissioner highlighted that the department had integrated over 1,000 identified drug users into its ongoing rehabilitation and awareness program. He emphasized that yoga was being introduced as a key component to help participants transition towards a drug-free lifestyle.
Yoga Sessions Across the City
Yoga sessions were also conducted at Riverfront Park, Bhavanipuram, and Dr BR Ambedkar Smriti Vanam under the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation's Yogandhra initiative. At the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy temple atop Indrakeeladri, a free yoga training program for devotees and the public commenced and will continue until June 21.
Ongoing Activities
Officials stated that yoga camps, awareness drives, and competitions will continue across NTR district over the next fortnight as part of the statewide campaign promoting healthy lifestyles and wellness.
About the Author: Vidya Dusi is a Senior Digital Content Creator at The Times of India, Vijayawada. She reports on education, civic issues and endowments, with an interest in human-interest stories and emerging developments across Andhra Pradesh.
