Gandhinagar: In an innovative effort to promote health through yoga practice, the Gujarat State Yoga Board has launched the first-ever statewide Surya Namaskar Maha Abhiyan, scheduled to run until January 1, 2024. The initiative includes a Sun Namaskar competition held across the state from December 6th to December 31st, announced Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Wednesday.

Sanghvi provided further insights, stating that the yoga competition will take place at over 20,000 locations throughout the state, with prizes exceeding Rs. 2 crores being awarded to participants.

Online registration for participation is open from December 6 to December 12, 2023. The village and ward-level competitions will be held on December 15, Taluka and Zone-level competitions on December 19, District and Municipal-level competitions on December 24, and the State-level competition on December 29.

The minister highlighted that the competition is divided into three age categories: 9 to 18 years, 19 to 40 years, and above 41 years. Cash prizes of Rs.101 will be awarded to category winners at the village/school/ward level, Rs.1000 at the taluka/municipality/zone level. The winner at the district and municipal level will get Rs.21,000 while the first runner up and second runner up will receive Rs.15,000 and Rs.11,000 in cash prizes.

Minister Sanghavi shared that at the state level, the top three winners will receive Rs 2,50,000, Rs 1,75,000, and Rs 1,00,000, respectively. All participants will receive a digital certificate.

After the competition concludes, a Surya Namaskar program is scheduled for January 1, 2024, at Modhera-Surya Temple, Mehsana. The program involves worshiping the Sun God through Surya Namaskar with the first rays of the new year. A felicitation ceremony will honor the state-level winners here.

Additionally, events will be organized on the same day at around 190 places across the state at the district/metropolitan and municipal levels. Citizens will participate in Surya Namaskar programs to welcome the new year’s sun rays and worship the sun god.

In addition to the yoga competition, Sanghavi announced the shortlisting of seven sports startup companies for the pitchbook competition to be held during the Gujarat Sports Startup Conclave on December 11. This event, a first in the country, is part of a pre-Vibrant initiative at TransStadia University in Ahmedabad. A panel of judges will determine the top three startups, which will be rewarded with prizes of Rs 10 lakh, Rs 7 lakh, and Rs 4 lakh, respectively. A consolation prize of Rs 1 lakh each will be awarded to the remaining four startups.

The seven shortlisted startups will present their business ideas and products to a panel of seasoned judges on December 11 during the pitchbook competition. DeshGujarat