Yogandhra-2026: thousands attend yoga session at Srisailsam temple

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Locals and temple staff participate in a yoga programme held as part of the Yogandhra-2026 initiative in Srisailam on Monday. | Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

More than 2,000 locals, devotees, and staff of the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple participated in a special yoga session held at the Srisailam temple on Monday (June 8, 2026) as part of Yogandhra-2026. A special stage was set up at the Gangadhara Mandapam near the temple’s main entrance, and extensive arrangements were made from the Gangadhara Mandapam to the Nandi Mandapam for the event

Nandyal district Joint Collector Suraj Dhanunjay, who participated in the event, stated that India has gifted the world the priceless boon of yoga. He noted that practicing yoga fosters both physical fitness and mental peace and urged everyone to incorporate yoga into their daily lives and practice it regularly.

Emphasising that building a healthy society is the objective of the ‘Yogandhra’ programme, he instructed officials to conduct yoga activities extensively, ranging from the village level to the district level.

Temple Executive Officer M. Srinivasa Rao stated that yoga programmes are being conducted within the temple premises, following the guidelines of the district administration and State Endowments Department officials. He mentioned that nationally recognised yoga gurus have been invited for the event and that special yoga training has been provided to staff, locals, and pilgrims over the past two days. The training programmes will continue until June 20.

The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and later renowned yoga guru Gandhavalla Balasubrahmanyam guided the participants through subtle exercises, “Pranava” meditation, and “Pranayama”.

During the yoga session, he explained the benefits of each Yogasana by correlating them with modern medical science. The session included asanas such as Trikonasana, Utthana Padasana, Ardha Halasana, and Shalabhasana, alongside Pranayama techniques like Kapalbh