Udaipur, June 21, 2025 - On the occasion of International Yoga Day, a grand yoga event was organised this morning in Udaipur on the Fateh Sagar Pal. The chief guest of the event was Padma Shri Uday Deshpande.

Furqan Khan, Director of the West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC), Udaipur, said that as per the directives of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the Centre had organised this large-scale event in collaboration with the Udaipur District Administration, Udaipur Development Authority (UDA) and the AYUSH Department.

The event began with a traditional lighting-of-the-lamp ceremony, followed by a captivating Mallakhamb performance by Padma Shri Deshpande and his team. Mallakhamb is an ancient Indian sport and martial art where athletes perform aerial yoga and gymnastics on a vertical pole or rope. 

This ancient Indian art form highlighted the blend of physical strength and yogic tradition, leaving the audience mesmerised.

A live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address was broadcast next after which a structured yoga session was conducted. Led by chief yoga instructor Kiran Soni and assisted by Purva Maan, Monika Dashora, Pooja Sharma and Jayshree, the team guided the crowd through various yoga practices.At the conclusion of the event, Padma Shri Deshpande and international kayaking player Pratiti Vyas were honoured for their contributions.

The programme was anchored by Rajendra Sen. Attendees included Pawan Amarawat (Centre's Deputy Director, Programmes), Durgesh Chandwani (Assistant Director,Finance & Accounts), CL Salvi, Hemant Mehta, Rakesh Mehta, Bhupendra Singh Kothari, Dinesh Bapna, BL Nalwaya, Siddhant Bhatnagar, Kamal Nahata, Bhupesh Khamesra and Prakash Kothari .

Around 2,000 participants, including locals and members of various organisations, actively took part in the event. Students and faculty from schools like Vidya Bhavan Senior Secondary School, Fatehpura, and St Anthony’s School, Balicha, along with folk artists and craftsmen from Shilpgram and performers from the Bagore Ki Haveli's Dharoher programme also participated.