Yoga Education Gets a Boost as Utkal University Announces New Courses
Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards promoting India’s ancient yoga tradition, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that yoga courses will be introduced at Utkal University.
The initiative aims to encourage holistic education, wellness, and wider awareness of the country’s rich cultural heritage.
The Chief Minister made the announcement while addressing the annual gathering of the Yoga Mahotsav Samiti at Utkal University.
He praised the organisation for its efforts in expanding yoga awareness across Odisha through various community-level initiatives and training programs.
Highlighting the growing acceptance of yoga, Majhi noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has facilitated the introduction of yoga courses at the university.
He also recalled the enthusiastic participation witnessed during International Yoga Day celebrations at Kalinga Stadium, reflecting the increasing popularity of yoga among citizens.
The event witnessed the participation of over 2,500 yoga practitioners, including more than 600 office-bearers from 36 organisational districts, who performed yoga collectively.
Speaking on the occasion, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi described yoga as a priceless legacy of India’s Vedic tradition.
He emphasised that yoga serves not only as a physical exercise but also as a pathway to spiritual growth and inner well-being.
Odisha Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that more than five lakh people in the state practised yoga last year with support from the Yoga Mahotsav Samiti.
He further highlighted efforts to integrate yoga education into the Indian Knowledge System framework under the National Education Policy.
Meanwhile, Chandi Prasad Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University, announced plans to establish a Yoga, AYUSH and Wellness Centre on the campus.
The proposed centre is expected to promote wellness, research, and holistic learning among students and the wider community.
The initiative marks another significant effort by the Odisha government and educational institutions to preserve and promote India’s ancient wellness traditions while integrating them into modern academic frameworks.
