The newly-built Yoga Mandira at Sports Pavilion near Maharaja’s College Grounds in city was dedicated to citizens by University of Mysore (UoM) Special Officer Dr. H.K. Chethan yesterday.

The Yoga Mandira has been constructed at a cost of Rs.1.5 crore to propagate yoga among the people of Mysuru.

Speaking on the occasion, he said COVID-19 pandemic has taught how they should live. Now, more than money and asset, protection of health has become the priority of one and all. People who were not caring for their health have been taught by Corona to become health conscious. Yoga was like a panacea for all ailments and practising it regularly makes people healthy always. More than materialistic pleasure, people are giving importance to healthcare, he added.

M.S.S. Kumar, former Syndicate Member of UoM, and a person behind establishment of Yoga Mandira in the Sports Pavilion, who was the chief guest at the function, said Mysuru has been popular worldwide as ‘Yoga Capital’ and hundreds of foreigners come here to do short-term courses in Yoga. People practicing yoga in foreign countries were almost same as the number of persons doing it here. This ancient art of meditation and physical fitness exercise has found its way in many nations. “I was one of the persons who had demanded the UoM authorities to release funds to build yoga centre in the Sports Pavilion for the benefit of citizens. It was happy to note that it was inaugurated.”

Dr. P. Krishnaiah, Director, Department of Physical Education, UoM, said as many as 50 persons were currently undergoing yoga training. The fee will be very nominal when compared to yoga institutes in city, to make it affordable to everyone. “I request everyone to tell your friends and relatives about Yoga Mandira and ask them to enrol for regular practicing.”

On this occasion, students who have bagged prizes in kick-boxing and yoga were given away the awards.