ZIRAKPUR, June 27 — Around 700 students and teachers gathered at the PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya, K-Area, Zirakpur, to mark the International Day of Yoga. The event featured yogacharya Ram Pratap as the chief guest, a figure with postgraduate qualifications in yoga, Sanskrit, and philosophy. According to the school’s announcement, Pratap has been active in yoga promotion and public welfare for nearly two decades.
He is currently associated with the Brahmrishi Yoga Training Institute, contributing to yoga and Indian philosophy. The programme was coordinated by Ravi Kumar, the school’s yoga teacher, and Ashok, a postgraduate teacher in physical education.
The event opened with a green welcome for the chief guest, offered by Principal Pushpa Sharma. In his address, Pratap delivered what the school described as an inspiring message on the importance of yoga, a healthy lifestyle, and mental well-being. All students and faculty members then participated in a yoga session, practising various asanas and pranayama exercises.
The stated objective of the programme was to raise awareness about yoga and inspire students to lead healthy, balanced lives. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Rajendra Kumar, a postgraduate teacher in Hindi, who expressed gratitude to the chief guest and extended best wishes to all participants on the International Day of Yoga.
The scale of participation — several hundred students and teachers — reflects the school’s emphasis on physical education and wellness programmes. PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya is part of a network of schools under the central government’s PM SHRI scheme, which focuses on holistic education. The International Day of Yoga, observed annually on June 21 since its inception in 2015, has become a fixture in many Indian schools, with events like this one serving as a platform for promoting traditional practices alongside modern educational goals.
Yogacharya Ram Pratap’s background, combining postgraduate studies in yoga, Sanskrit, and philosophy, positions him as a specialist in the field. His nearly two decades of work in yoga promotion and public welfare, along with his affiliation with the Brahmrishi Yoga Training Institute, add credibility to the school’s wellness initiative. The institute, based in the region, is known for its focus on traditional yoga and Indian philosophical teachings.
The event’s coordination by Ravi Kumar and Ashok, both physical education specialists, underscores the school’s structured approach to health education. The participation of students and teachers together suggests a community-wide engagement, which aligns with the broader goals of the International Day of Yoga: to encourage physical and mental well-being across age groups.
Looking ahead, such programmes may become more frequent as schools integrate wellness into their curricula. The emphasis on asanas and pranayama — core components of yoga practice — indicates a focus on practical, hands-on learning rather than theoretical instruction. For the Zirakpur community, this event represents a continuation of efforts to embed healthy lifestyle habits into the school environment, with potential benefits for student concentration and overall health.
