As the nation is gearing up for International Yoga Day (June 21), Uttarakhand is no exception with the capital Dehradun taking the lead. “It is a big day for everyone and we all should observe it appropriately,” said a resident of Dehradun, Rashmi Gupta. Camps have been set up and people can be seen joining them in every locality of the city, she added. Preparations were seen to be peaking in the Pavilion Ground, Dehradun. However, things were a little hindered by the sudden drizzling on Saturday. “We have set up the stage and cleaned the place for yoga. If required, we would use tents for protection from rain,” said Mahesh who has been working with others to prepare the ground for Sunday’s event.
“The main event would be organised by Patanjali Group and the Chief Minister will take part,” informed the police officers, manning the event. Proper parking space will be provided to the participants. Half of the ground has been cleared for that purpose, one of the police officers posted there added. Speaking of security, he said, “Tight security will be provided to the CM, but an eye will also be kept on every participant.” Meanwhile, special preparations were seen at Tussat Function Centre, near Parade Ground, Dehradun for the celebration of “Yog-utsav” which will be held in the evening of Sunday. “Yog-utsav is being organised by The Art of living and is open to all,” said Hemant Kundra, a faculty member, The Art of living.
This event will be a mixture of yoga, meditation and music and arrangements have been made so that people can learn more about them by audio and visuals, he added. On the flipside, the unemployed yoga instructors took out a protest march on Saturday afternoon, demanding jobs under the banner of Yoga Trained Unemployed Association. Starting from Parade Ground, they went on marching from lansdowne Chowk to Doon Chowk, raising slogans against the State Government. “The Government should appoint trained and qualifies yoga instructors in schools, colleges and hospitals,” said one of the protesters.