YOGA SAPTAHA

INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY CELEBRATION

( From 21st June to 27^th June  2018)

"Expansion is Life, Contraction is death" says Swami Vivekananda. It is an expansion of our yoga activities that marked our year’s International Yoga Day.

This year we could take yoga to every nook and corner of Kodungallur and bring its multifarious benefits to the grasp of common man and woman and urge them to take it up as their daily routine. As our honorable Prime Minister reiterates it would be a journey from illness to wellness. By expanding our yoga activities we are also paying our homage to the founder of Vivekananda Kendra, Mananeeya Eknathji whose vision way back in 1972, had made yoga the core of Vivekananda Kendra.

As in the last 3 years, this year also Vivekananda Kendra decided to have a yoga Saptaha to do full justice to the ideals of our great teachers. Our activities extended from 21^st to 27^th June.

On the 21^st morning there was a mass yoga practice at Anandadham from 7 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. The programme started with the lighting of lamp by Man. Lakshmi Didi. She addressed the participants highlighting the role of yoga at individual, and cosmic level and requested all the participants to make yoga as part of their day to day life. The participants were Yoga Varga and Yoga Satra members, Yoga Certificate Course participants and school girls of the XII class of Govt. Girls Higher Sec. School Kodungallur. A total of 110 participants were present in spite of heavy rain. The programme ended with shanti mantra.

On the same day 10.30 to 11 a.m. one of the YCC students Dr. Midhun, conducted a class for the students Sisu Vidyaposhini School, Eriyad on this occasion of IYD. At the same time Smt Jayalakshmi conducted classes for the Saraswathi Vidya Niketan, Edavilangu students and their parents and teachers, and also conducted classes for students of Ala UP school and  two schools in Poya. Smt Seeba was invited to conduct yoga session for Nehru Yuva Kendra at Karumathra.

Ma. Lakshmi Didi and Sri Sudhakarji were invited on this occasion to talk on Yoga, in Sri Sai Vidyapeetham, Anthikad, Thrissur. In the evening at Kovilakath Village and  Matru Samiti at Shiva Kshetram, Thiruvallor, Smt Jayalakshmi had conducted a class for the mothers, and their children.She introduced the term Yoga for the first time to the mothers in Thiruvallor.

Smt Suja Nair, Y.C.C student had her concluding function of 10 days Yoga Satra at Palackal, Thrissur. On the occasion of I Y Day, she had invited the relatives and friends of the satra participants.

On the 22^nd, 23^rd and 25^th advanced Yogasana competitions were held at Anandadham for various age groups of students in three batches including LP,UP and H.S students. 75 students from 8 different schools participated.

On the same days during the evening hours, concluding sessions of 10 to 13 days yoga Satra  conducted by Yoga Certificate Course students were held.

On the 24^th morning there was a meet for the aspiring students willing to prepare for QCI examination of Ayush ministry, Govt of India, who would look for guidance from Vivekananda Kendra,

On the 27th at the concluding function many yoga practitioner trained by the YCC students, the prize winning students with their guardians, yoga varga members  all gathered in Panicker's Hall, West Nada ,Kodungallur,to participate  in the celebration.Apart from prize distribution, there was also the felicitation of our YCC students who had successfully completed their course under our headquarters  Kanyakumari’s  Certificate Course. Each YCC student was felicitated by Ma. Lakshmi Didi with a lighted lamp,a book and a shawl or ponnada. The Chief guest of the programme was Sri Narayana Bhattathiri, a well versed Sanskrit scholar and former Acharya of Vivekananda University at Belur Math.Dr Panicker and his wife, the owners of the Paniker's hall, also graced the occasion with their presence . Each of the prize winners of yogasana competition demonstrated a few asanas before the prize distribution. 

HDPY Sen.Sec. School, Andipillikavu,with the highest points in the yogasana competitions received the shield. The Principal and Manager of the school were also present to receive the shield from the hands of Didi and Dr Panicker.A total of 120 people were present .