'Yoga Sangam 2025' celebrated at GSI Bengaluru to mark International Yoga Day
Bengaluru: The Geological Survey of India (GSI), under the Ministry of Mines, observed International Yoga Day 2025 with a week-long campaign titled 'Yoga Sangam', held at the Remote Sensing and Aerial Survey (RSAS) wing in Bengaluru from June 14 to June 21, 2025.
The initiative, conducted in two phases, was launched as per the directive of the Hon’ble Union Minister of Mines. The first phase began with a bootcamp on June 14 themed "Yoga for One Earth, One Health – योग से योग्य". The session was inaugurated by Debkumar Bhattacharyya, Deputy Director General & Head of Department, in the presence of C.S. Verma, Deputy Director General, along with other Directors, officers, and staff members.
The main event of the 11th International Day of Yoga was held on June 21, synchronised with the national live broadcast of the mass yoga demonstration led by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The virtual session, based on the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), was conducted from 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM.
A total of 85 officers, staff, and their family members participated enthusiastically in the virtual session, performing asanas such as Tadasana, Anulom Vilom, Kapalbhati, Bhramari, Padahastasana, Vakrasana, and Shavasana. The participants appreciated the Government of India’s initiative and emphasised the importance of practicing yoga for 10-15 minutes daily at the workplace to enhance physical and mental well-being.
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Akash Singh says signature celebration fuels motivation, reinforces dominance
Lucknow (PTI): Pacer Akash Singh caught the eye with his unique celebration during Lucknow Super Giants' win over Chennai Super Kings, pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket after a wicket, a gesture he said was aimed at "motivating" himself and "asserting dominance" over batters.
The left-arm pacer pulled out a scrappy piece of paper after each of the three wickets he took in LSG seven-wicket win over CSK, with the message reading: "Akki on fire -- Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket.
The 24-year-old, who began his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals and was part of Chennai Super Kings’ title-winning campaign in 2023 before moving to Lucknow Super Giants, registered his best IPL figures with 3 for 26 on Friday.
"'Akki knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket', right?" Akash said when asked about the message on the piece of paper, adding that it serves as a source of motivation and helps him focus on dominating batters and delivering stronger performances for the team.
"Different things motivate different people. Some days I show the paper, some days I don't, but it reflects my mindset on that particular day. When you carry a piece of paper with something written on it, you manifest things and the most important part is when those manifestations actually materialise," he added.
Akash, who hails from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, said the strong backing from the Lucknow Super Giants support staff over the last two years had played a huge role in his growth as a cricketer.
"I've been with LSG for two years and the most important thing has been the backing from the coaches, even when I'm not in the playing XI. This year we have Bharat Arun sir, last year Zaheer sir was there...Tom Moody. The way they guide us, prepare us and keep us ready for opportunities is very important when there are 25 players in the squad," he said.
"When you are not playing, you naturally seek backing and every player wants to make the most of the opportunities he gets. The support from the captain also matters a lot and with Rishabh bhaiya backing you, the confidence grows and you are able to perform better," Akash said, referring to Rishabh Pant.
Akash said Pant had asked him to trust his strengths ahead of the clash against CSK.
"He told me that the new ball is my strength and that I can swing it both ways. So I just tried to make the best use of my skills. The wicket also had good bounce, so I focused on using the bouncer effectively,” added Akash.
On his success against CSK, Akash said his experience of playing in the IPL since 2020, including a stint with CSK, helped him understand the opposition batters better, while backing his own strengths with the ball also played a key role in his impressive spell.
"Obviously, when you play in the IPL and have shared the dressing room with some players, you understand their strengths and weaknesses. My focus was first to back my own strengths, then exploit their weaknesses and also make the best use of what the wicket was offering," Akash said.
Akash said he had sensed over the last two-three games that an opportunity could come his way after being repeatedly told to "be ready", though he admitted he was unfortunate not to get a chance earlier.
"Two days before the match, during practice, I was told to be ready," he said.
Clarifying that he had not been carrying the piece of paper in anticipation, Akash said he often notes down thoughts that could help improve his game..
"Whenever I’m alone or about to sleep, any thought that comes to my mind which can help my cricket, I write it down. The other night I got this thought and jotted it down on paper," he added.
