Dhurwa, which had in July 2002 gained notoriety for a domicile-related clash that claimed three lives, on Friday witnessed the assembly of over 40,000 people cutting across caste, community and religion perform yoga with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Prabhat Tara grounds to celebrate International Yoga Day.

Some of the participants were regular practitioners of yoga while other were first-timers. But everybody was equally happy to be part of the historic occasion for which the state government had made elaborate arrangements.

“I regularly practise yoga. The programme was good. I am happy to be able to participate in it. It felt more like a get-together,” said A.K. Prasad (60), retired principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, on his was back from Prabhat Tara grounds.

For farmer Chamru Majhi (69), who had come from Dorma in Khunti with his daughter’s son, it was a overwhelming experience.

“Moi ke badhia laglak. Ishan nai dekh rahi. (I liked it. I had never seen anything like this),” the septuagenarian said in sadri language.

Though Majhi couldn’t follow the Hindi instructions properly, he didn’t find performing the asanas difficult.

“I was able to see the instructor on the LED screens installed on the ground. Moi yoga karat haoun. TV mein dekhlon (I practise yoga. I have seen in on the TV)” he said.

Nutan Devi (60), a homemaker from Hatia in Hesag, said she couldn’t go a day without doing yoga and Friday’s event was memorable for her.

“I suffer from high blood sugar and pressure levels. Yoga helps me keep them in control. I am happy I could perform yoga with such as huge number of people. Last time, I had participated in such event when Baba Ramdev had come to Morabadi and explained the importance of yoga in curing diseases,” she said.

Among the participants there were some who were followers of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

“We practise and train people in yoga. Today’s programme was a learning experience for us. We have planned a training programme for 250 youths from June 26-31 after getting motivated by this programme,” Krishna (24), a resident of Morabadi.

Poonam Kumari (24), who had come from Phusro under Dhori area of Central Coalfields Limited in Bokaro district, did yoga for the first time in her life.

“Though I could not perform the asanas properly, I realised how it can help me keep fit,” said Kumari, who was accompanied by two other first-timers from her locality — Anjali Kumari and Nandi Kumari.

On whether she would continue doing yoga regularly, she laughed and nodded.