Students, tourists throng Yogandhra-2026 atop Horsley Hills

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A girl participating in the Yogandhra-2026 event at the Horsley Hills in Annamayya district on Thursday. | Photo Credit: ARRANGEMENT

Horsley Hills in Annamayya district witnessed an impressive turnout of students and tourists who participated in both the Yogandhra-2026 and environmental awareness programme organised by the district administration on Thursday.

Nearly a thousand students, tourists, officials from various government departments, faculty and staff from government and private educational institutions, health workers, and local people attended the events .

Set against the panoramic view of the hills, the event commenced with cultural performances by students, followed by a mass yoga session led by yoga trainers. Participants practised various ‘asanas’ and breathing techniques to improve physical fitness, mental resilience, and overall well-being.

District Collector Nishant Kumar launched the celebrations, calling yoga ‘India’s timeless gift to humanity’ and appealed to public to incorporate the practice into their daily lives. He said that yoga will herald discipline, concentration, and emotional balance. “Yoga is particularly relevant in today’s fast-paced world. People’s participation in large numbers is our target in the upcoming Yogandhra events ahead of International Yoga Day,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) organised a special awareness programme highlighting the dangers of plastic pollution. Mr. Nishant Kumar visited the exhibition stalls displaying eco-friendly alternatives and released an awareness booklet encouraging sustainable practices and distributed the same to the students and tourists.

On the occasion, the Collector also inaugurated an RO drinking water facility at Horsley Hills for the tourists, highlighting the importance of promoting reusable glass bottles and cloth bags. Describing environmental conservation as a shared responsibility, Mr. Nishant Kumar said that collective action is needed to preserve