By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
In a celebration of holistic well-being and India’s rich spiritual heritage, the inaugural CISCE National Pre-Yoga Olympiad 2025 commenced on Friday with a soul-stirring and meticulously organised ceremony at St. Joseph’s Academy (SJA), Dehradun.
The event, steeped in tradition and forward thinking vision, set a powerful tone for the days of competition and camaraderie ahead. The auspicious occasion was significantly enhanced by the presence of the Chief Guest, Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination, New Delhi.
The other dignitaries and invitees were Arijit Basu, Deputy Secretary (Finance) and in-charge, Sports and Games CISCE, Arnav Kumar Shaw, Manager Games and Sports, Sudhir Joshi, Secretary ASISC, UP & UK region, Michelle A. Gardner, Joint Regional Coordinator, Sports and Games, Uttarakhand Region along with over 80 Heads of Schools from the state of Uttarakhand affiliated to CISCE, New Delhi.
The ceremony began with a moment of serene prayer with all attendees observing a period of quiet reflection, invoking the blessings of the Almighty for the success of the Olympiad and the well-being of all the participants. In his address to the gathering, the Principal, Brother Joseph M Joseph, extended a heartfelt and warm welcome to the Chief Guest, all the dignitaries and special guests, the Principals of various institutions, participating teams, coaches, judges, school staff and the students as volunteers.
A pivotal moment arrived with the lighting of the lamp, a revered Indian tradition symbolizing the dispelling of darkness and the ushering in of knowledge and positive energy.
The Chief Guest, along with the dignitaries and the Principal, SJA, jointly performed the auspicious ritual. The ceremony’s spiritual atmosphere was further enhanced by a truly invigorating prayer dance by the talented students of the junior school. This was followed by a vibrant and dynamic power-point presentation by the senior school tech-board. The air was then filled with harmonious melodies as the junior school choir presented an uplifting rendition of a specially composed song titled, ‘The Kindness Song’. Their synchronized voices added a layer of profound solemnity and joyous anticipation to the proceedings.
Following this, came another enchanting dance performance by the students of the senior school. Their expressive movements beautifully depicted the essence of devotion and the fluidity of yogic postures, captivating the audience with their artistry and spiritual depth.
In his address to the gathering, the Chief Guest, Dr. Joseph Emmanuel lauded the initiative thanking the Principal for hosting this very prestigious event in SJA. He stated that yoga or the union of body and mind is a spiritual and physical combination of two elements. Fifteen minutes of yoga can keep all the diseases away. So, to promote the importance of good health in life, all of us should come together, collectively.
As a token of appreciation and remembrance, a beautiful memento was presented to the esteemed Chief Guest, D Joseph Emmanuel by Brother Joseph M Joseph, Principal SJA, acknowledging his presence and support for this national endeavor.
Adding a profound moment of commitment, all the young participants took part in the oath ceremony given by Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, pledging to uphold the values of yoga, respect their fellow competitors and strive for excellence in their practice. This solemn affirmation highlighted the Olympiad’s aim to instill discipline, sportsmanship, and deep appreciation for the ancient art of yoga.
The inaugural ceremony concluded with a comprehensive vote of thanks delivered by the Head Boy, Daksh Joshi and the Head Girl, Siya Maheshwari of SJA. They extended their sincere gratitude to the Chief Guest, all accompanying dignitaries, the Principal SJA, the school management, participating schools and the tireless volunteers for their collective effort in making the inauguration a resounding success.
The National Pre-Yoga Olympiad at SJA shall promise to be a vibrant display of talent, dedication and the unifying power of yoga, as students from across the nation converge to showcase their mastery and deepen their understanding of this ancient discipline.
Soon after the Inauguration Ceremony, Dr. Joseph Emmanuel addressed the Heads of Schools from the state of Uttarakhand on the new initiatives of CISCE for implementation of National Education Policy (NEP)- 2020.