Yoga is not only a pathway towards physical and mental fitness but also an alignment between inner tranquillity and the divine order. Every year, June 21 is marked as the longest day of the year and is celebrated as the ‘Summer Solstice’.

Rev. Dr. John Felix Raj, S.J., the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of St. Xavier’s University Kolkata, inaugurated the International Yoga Day, 2025 celebration with a welcoming note. He welcomed the guest, Ms Mayurakshi Biswas, the yoga teacher, her team, and all the participants. Father Vice-Chancellor reminded everyone that Yoga is an essential component of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) and urged the participants to ‘practice Yoga daily and not just on the Yoga day celebration’. He appreciated the presence of female faculty members and Ph.D. scholars among the participants.

All the participants, including students, faculty members and support staff of the university, had the opportunity to experience an hour-long ‘Asanas’ (Yoga Session) under the able guidance and motivation of Ms Biswas, the Yoga teacher and her team in Fr. Albert Huart Hall. The participants’ enthusiasm for overcoming initial discomforts in performing different Asanas was notable.

The Sports Society, in support of the Office of the Campus Minister and IT section, made the necessary arrangements for a smooth progress of this session. The celebration came to an end with the high tea, where participants shared their experiences echoing the theme of this year’s International Yoga Day, ‘One Earth and One Health’.

Report Prepared by
Ms Debopriya Chattaraj (student) and Dr. Utpal Kumar Raha (Faculty)