A different Connaught Place came alive on Tuesday as thousands of people performed asanas between 7 am and 7.45 am at Inner Circle and radial roads of the Capital’s commercial hub to mark the second International Yoga Day. The usual buzz of activity in the area was replaced by chants of “Om”.
The event, jointly organised by Ministry of AYUSH and New Delhi Municipal Council, began with a yoga programme of Jnanasindhu School for blind from Karnataka, followed by a martial arts performance by CISF women commandos. Around 250 CISF commandos, including women commando, demonstrated on ‘Pekiti Tirsia Kali’, a Filipino martial art.
Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu was the chief guest at the event and lt Governor Najeeb Jung and BJP MP Meenakshi lekhi also participated. Celebrities like international wrestler Sangram Singh and Miss India 2014 Koyal Rana were also present at the function.
The level of excitement was palpable as people started turning up well before the dawn on the three radial roads of the Connaught Place.
While the NDMC made all the arrangements for the event, several organisations — including Patanjali Yogpeeth, the Art of living, Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vidyalaya and the Delhi Police — helped in making it a grand success.
Besides, unlike the first edition, the weather god also showed support as the skies remained clear throughout the event.
Addressing the gathering, Venkaiah Naidu said, “Yoga is not a religion. It is a way of life for a healthy mind in a healthy body.” Western countries had adopted “yogic traditions to heal themselves”, he said urging Indians to make yoga a part of their lives and make it a people’s movement. He, along with other dignitaries, later joined the yoga enthusiasts for the 45-minute yoga practice.
Apart from Connaught Place, the AYUSH Ministry organised the event at six other locations — lodhi Garden, Nehru Park, Talkatora Garden, Swarn Jayanti Park in Rohini, Yamuna Sports Complex in Patparganj and District Park in Dwarka.
At least 100 Resident Welfare Associations identified by the Ministry also hosted Yoga Day events.
At Nehru Park, approximately 2,000 people turned up for the event. Among those who were present were nearly 70 diplomats from 35 countries, including Japan, Sri lanka and United States, according to an official of AYUSH Ministry.
Thousands of police personnel too celebrated Yoga Day in all districts of Delhi Police.
The Delhi government held a separate event at the Chhatrasal Stadium which was presided over by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
President Pranab Mukherjee too celebrated the Day with 1,000 people participating with him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Fifty-seven Union Ministers across the country joined the masses to celebrate the day.
Around 200 officials and employees of the Civil Aviation Ministry and Airports Authority of India (AAI), including Secretary R N Choubey, performed various Yoga asanas at the lawns of the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan.
Gurgaon-based carrier SpiceJet participated in the exercise with 40-crew members undertaking a 10-minutes session on board.
Doctors at the AIIMS, including its director MC Misra, also marked the day. “Yoga is a way of life and it should be part of every one’s life. Yoga keeps several health complications away if done regularly with dedication,” said Misra.
The participants also included many non-medical staff of AIIMS.