Chandigarh will host this year’s International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the mega event.
With bigger celebrations being planned this year on International Yoga Day, the Centre has decided to shift the venue from the Rajpath in New Delhi, where the event was organised last year.
Though the Central Government and UT Administration are yet to finalise the venue for the mega event, the renowned Capitol Complex, Sector 34 rally ground or Botanical Garden could be the venue for the one hour long event.
As per the proposed programme, the national function, including a yoga demonstration would be held from 7 am to 8 am in Chandigarh on June 21. The event will be organised by the UT Administration in collaboration with support from the State Governments of Punjab and Haryana.
A meeting was held in Chandigarh on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Ajit M Sharan, Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Ayush to discuss the expected visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on International Yoga day here.
Haryana Chief Secretary DS Dhesi, Parimal Rai, Adviser to the UT Administrator alongwith senior officials of UT Administration, Haryana and Punjab were present during the meeting.
During the meeting, the officials from Ministry of Ayush showcased a presentation about the last year’s Yoga day celebrations at New Delhi to brief the panel about preparations done for the success of the event.
Discussions also took place to finalize the venue for the grand event, and to chalk out concrete plans for the success of the VVIP affair. Security arrangements were another concern that came forth the officials after a stretched discussion on deciding a venue for the event.
At the meeting, the officers of UT Administration assured that if chosen, Chandigarh will prove to the best host for this event.
last year, the Union ministry of Ayush had set two records - for the largest yoga session ever with 35,985 participants and for most nationalities, 84, taking part at a single venue at Rajpath in New Delhi. The earlier record on the first count was held by Vivekanand Kendra, a Gwalior-based institute, with 29,973 participants.
Dressed in white and a Tricolour scarf, the Prime Minister had last year led the group through a variety of poses, including the Vajrasan and Padmasan during the International Yoga day celebrations. Similar yoga events had taken place across the country -- in parks, homes, Navy ships, an army base in the desert and even mid-air on some flights.
If everything goes well, this would be the third visit of Narendra Modi to the city after becoming Prime Minister. Earlier in January, Modi had received French President Francois Hollande here, who was the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi.
last year, Modi’s maiden visit to Chandigarh as Prime Minister was a public relations fiasco, with schools shut down, people asked to remain indoors, and even the crematorium inaccessible. He was here to inaugurate the international terminal of Chandigarh Airport, attend convocation function at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research for convocation and address a public rally.