NCERT to organise 3-day Yoga Olympiad from tomorrow

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi-After science and mathematics Olympiad, the NCERT is set to organise the first ever Yoga Olympiad for all government and government-aided schools students ahead of the International Yoga Day on June 21. The three-day event will begin from tomorrow and culminate on the eve of the International Yoga Day with an award ceremony to be attended by HRD minister Smriti Irani.

“To be conducted with different syllabus for upper primary and secondary students from block, district, state to national level, participants will be tested on five yogic practices: Asanas, Pranayam, Kriya (cleansing process), Dhyana (meditation), Bandha and Mudra,” NCERT Director Hrushikesh Senapaty told reporters.

However, considering the opposition to Surya Namaskar and Om Chanting by certain sections, NCERT has made it optional and it will not be under the categories to be assessed. The theme of the Olympiad is Yoga for Health and Harmony. “It is important that the younger generation is given a direction of holistic vision of sharing, caring, harmony, peace and love as the key features of yoga.