On June 21, 2025, two lakes in Hyderabad—Kotha Cheruvu in Kokapet and Mushkhi Cheruvu—came alive with the sound of breath, balance, and community harmony. As the sun rose gently over these revitalized waters, more than 200 participants joined Dhruvansh NGO in celebrating International Yoga Day, marking a beautiful confluence of wellness and environmental awareness.
But this wasn’t just another yoga event. It was a celebration of how restoring natural ecosystems can restore human health, too. With their eco-revival work at these lakes, Dhruvansh NGO once again demonstrated that clean environments are the foundation for a healthier society.
🌿 Why Yoga by the Lake?
Lakes are natural sanctuaries—offering clean air, biodiversity, and serenity. Practicing yoga by a lake creates a deeper connection with nature, enhances mindfulness, and reduces mental fatigue.
By choosing to host Yoga Day at two restored lake sites, Dhruvansh NGO aimed to:
- Promote physical and mental health
- Raise awareness about lake conservation
- Create community experiences rooted in sustainability
This initiative reflects the NGO’s vision to make restored lakes centers of environmental learning, public engagement, and holistic living.
🏞️ A New Life for Kotha Cheruvu & Mushkhi Cheruvu
✅ Kotha Cheruvu (Kokapet):
Once heavily polluted with sewage and urban runoff, Kotha Cheruvu was on the verge of ecological collapse. Through Dhruvansh’s intervention—floating treatment wetlands, native plantations, and stormwater filtering—the lake is now cleaner, greener, and alive with birdlife.
✅ Mushkhi Cheruvu:
Still undergoing restoration, Mushkhi Cheruvu is showing encouraging signs of revival. Eco-filtration, biodiversity enhancement, and local participation have made this lake a symbol of sustainable transformation.
✨ Event Highlights
🧘♂️ Guided Yoga Sessions
The event began with energizing yoga sessions led by certified instructors. Surrounded by water, trees, and birdsong, participants practiced:
- Asanas for balance and strength
- Pranayama for deeper breathing and clarity
- Meditation for mindfulness and stress reduction
The natural setting provided a therapeutic environment rarely found in urban areas.
👨👩👧👦 Diverse Community Participation
Children, parents, senior citizens, students, and even first-time yoga practitioners came together. The turnout demonstrated that eco-wellness is for everyone, regardless of age or background.
The lakes became not only places of exercise but spaces where people formed emotional bonds with nature.
🌱 Eco-Awareness Drives
Dhruvansh volunteers held short awareness talks on:
- The importance of lakes in urban planning
- The link between clean ecosystems and better health
- Simple ways citizens can contribute—like avoiding plastic, planting trees, or volunteering for cleanups
These sessions created lasting impressions, especially among younger participants who pledged to “adopt nature” in daily life.
📷 Nature Walks & Biodiversity Spotting
Post-yoga, participants were taken on nature trails around the lakes. They were introduced to:
- Native wetland plants and trees
- Migratory and resident birds
- Eco-solutions like floating wetlands and bio-enzyme treatment zones
For many, it was their first time understanding how lakes work as living ecosystems—not just stagnant water bodies.
💬 Message from Dhruvansh NGO
“When we restore a lake, we restore the soul of a city. And when we gather for yoga by the lake, we reconnect with ourselves and the planet. This is what true sustainability looks like.”
— Madhulika Choudhary, Founder, Dhruvansh NGO
📈 Impact of the Event
The Yoga Day celebration wasn’t a one-day event—it created ripples of change that will last:
| Area | Impact |
| 🌍 Community Involvement | Over 200+ participants from local colonies and schools |
| 🌱 Environmental Awareness | People learned the importance of healthy lakes and biodiversity |
| 🧘 Health & Wellness | Participants reported improved mental clarity and peace |
| 📣 Social Engagement | Local media and social media helped spread the message |
| 🤝 Volunteer Interest | Dozens signed up for future lake clean-ups and plantation drives |
🔁 What Makes This Event Special?
This wasn’t just a yoga class—it was a movement. A conscious effort to:
- Shift public focus toward eco-health
- Turn rejuvenated lakes into community hubs
- Encourage people to live in sync with the environment
The approach was low-cost, high-impact, rooted in natural restoration and citizen-led change.
