Headlines
International Yoga Day: India will lead world from Rajpath
By
Sushil Kumar New Delhi, June 7
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," Basavaraddi Told IANS, 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.
(Sushil Kumar can be contacted at [email protected])