People from 193 countries will perform various ‘asanas’ (yogic postures) at different places across the globe with some 35,000 to 40,000 people who would lead the celebrations from Rajpath in New Delhi to mark the first International Yoga Day on June 21. A special report by Sushil Kumar on International Yoga Day
Hundreds of thousands of health enthusiasts from 193 countries will perform various ‘asanas’ (yogic postures) at different places across the globe with some 35,000 to 40,000 people who would lead the celebrations from Rajpath in the heart of the Indian capital to mark the first International Yoga Day on June 21.
Ishvar V. Basavaraddi, director, Morarji Institute of Yoga Sciences, said that people from 193 countries would take part in the celebrations.
“Our institute has prepared thousands of CDs and booklets in different languages to help people perform proper asanas worldwide,” said Basavaraddi, adding that the CDs and booklets have already been sent to all 193 countries.
The pictures in the CDs and the booklets would be of various Yoga gurus, including that of Baba Ramdev, performing asanas, he said.
“This would certainly help people understand the importance of Yoga in life,” Basavaraddi said. He said the event may create yoga awareness among more people and they might start doing the ancient Indian exercises that keep mind and body healthy and peaceful.
The CDs will be played on Rajpath on big screens so that participants can perform while watching them.
“The half-hour programme will begin at 7 a.m.,” Basavaraddi said, adding that the event will find a place in the Guinness World Records.
The United Nations (UN) declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day on India’s request last year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will lead the celebrations, also called for making yoga a mass movement, connecting people and strengthening the bonds of humanity.
“The entire global community has come together in support of celebrating the first-ever International Day of Yoga on June 21. Now, that strong support has also turned into immense enthusiasm. I am seeing several people and organisations across the world are working towards making it a memorable event,” Modi said in a statement.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been looking after the arrangements.
With an aim of ‘Yoga for Health and Peace’, about 45,000 people will participate in the programme on Rajpath and security arrangements are being made in such a way that everything passes off peacefully, MHA official K S Dhatwalia told IANS.
“Security would be as tight as it is during the Republic Day parade (on January 26),” he said.
Mukesh Kumar Meena, Joint Commissioner, Delhi Police,said security would be quite tight as participants would include dignitaries like the prime minister.
“The whole area would be sanitised and proper access control system would be put in place. Delhi Police special commandos would also be deployed at various points in the entire venue,” Meena told IANS.
The participants would include government officials from different departments and prominent citizens.
