Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah participated in the second International Yoga Day celebrations here today, describing the ancient Indian exercise form as a symbol of the nation's "rich cultural heritage".
Rosaiah led participants in the yoga programme conducted at the Raj Bhavan by Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University's Department of Yoga Head, Professor R Elangovan and Assistant Professor V Duraisami.
Amnog others, the Government Stanley Hospital here and several educational institutions celebrated the International Yoga Day across the state.
DMK leader M K Stalin pitched for promoting yoga, highlighting its benefits in a post in his Facebook page.
"The Governor said that Yoga is a symbol of our nation's rich cultural heritage," a Raj Bhavan release said.
The initiatives taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "made the richness of yoga reach the nations across the globe with United Nations General Assembly declaring 21st June as the International Yoga Day," the release quoted him as having said.
Just like praying, sitting and dining together, "we should develop the culture of practising yoga together at home," the Governor said and appealed to make practice of yoga as a daily routine to harmonise life.
Stalin, DMK Treasurer and Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, posted a picture of himself doing an asana, and said Yoga "provides health for both body and soul, is common for all beyond religion, language and race."
He said he had been practising Yoga for a long time, saying it helped him pursue active public service without any stress.
Stalin said the younger generation was facing "immense pressure" and urged the government to provide mental health and physical strength to them.
"They face immense pressures, especially while pursuing education. To mitigate this, the government should impart Yoga lessons in all schools and colleges. The younger generation's bodies and minds should be well nurtured through this simple practice," he said.
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Union Ministers of State, V K Singh and Pon Radhakrishnan participated in Yoga Day celebrations at different places in the state.
Singh attended events at Besant Nagar in Chennai and at a private college near the city while Radhakrishnan took part at the International Yoga Day celebrations at Tirupur.
Uniformed services personnel also took part in the Yoga Day celebrations in Chennai.
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Several corporates and educational institution also conducted Yoga for its employees at various places in Tamil Nadu.
Public sector Indian Bank along with city-based Krishnamachari Yoga Mandiram conducted Mass Yoga demonstration across in offices in the State.
In Chennai, a yoga camp was conducted at YMCA Ground led by the bank's Executive Directors R Subramaniakumar and A S Rajeev for the employees, a press release said.
State-owned Neyveli Lignite Corporation with a theme "Healthy India", conducted yoga demonstration led by its Chairman and Managing Director, Sarat Kumar Acharya.
17 Yoga Training Centres were set up under the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative conducted yoga classes, a press release said.
The centres equipped with gym facility was open to public and would be operating in six hours a day.
IndianOil Corporation, Executive Director (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) U V Mannur led the yoga demonstration conducted by Yoga Guru D V Sridhar for the employees at the IndianOil Bhavan, here.
At the Vellore Insitute of Technology, Vellore over 500 people comprising students, teachers and non-teaching staff participated in the yoga camp formally inaugurated by VIT Chancellor G Viswanathan.
