Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 21, 2015 :

Thousands of people braved sporadic rain to participate in a yoga session across the state to mark the International Yoga Day on Sunday.

Union minister of Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram, union minister of state [independent] petroleum, Dharmendra Pradhan, state Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sudam Marandi, Culture and Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda and Higher Education Minister Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi were present at the events held at different places in the state.

More than 3,000 people participated in a session at the Kalinga stadium here organised by the state health and family welfare department in association with State Odisha Ayush Society, said an official.

While Pradhan participated in International Yoga Day celebrations at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack, Oram performed yoga at distant Jeypore in Koraput district.

Various universities, colleges and schools also held special yoga sessions to mark the day.