With the 2nd International Yoga day to kick off on Tuesday, the Central Delhi's Connaught Place and six other venues are all set to host thousands of people to make the World Yoga day a huge success.
For this, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in co-ordination with the AYUSH Ministry is geared up with all necessary arrangements in place to make the event a memorable one.
Around 10,000 participants are expected to take part across 7 locations including the heart of Delhi in Connaught Place.
"The NDMC is in charge of preparations along with various organisations like Art of living, Patanjali, BrahmaKumarisVidyalaya and Raahgiri group to ensure volunteers turn up in large numbers, Said Rajesh Kumar, a senior official of the NDMC.
The event at Central Park will unfold at 5:30 am and common protocol yoga by all participants will start at 7 am and go on till 7:45 am.
The main stage set up at R1 road opposite N Block will witness trained instructors performing various yoga poses alongside chief guest Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of Urban Development and guests of honour lt Governor Najeeb Jung and Meenakshilekhi.
Chanchal Yadav, Secretary NDMC told The Pioneer, "For the first time, 'Public Art' will be seen at various locations of the Connaught Place area. The idea is to promote awareness about the yoga among people and simultaneously, this will beautify the area too."
We have restored a subway where people with optimum artistic skills will draw the paintings, she added.
Preparations are also being made at NDMC's School on Hanuman Road. Best paintings and art will be displayed all around the Connaught Place area, said Yadav.
Besides, the NDMC has decided to continue yoga programmes on regular basis for six days in a week in morning hours at lodhi Garden, Nehru Park and Talkatora Garden in collaboration with the Art of living, Patanjali Yoga Peeth and Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, said the Secretary.
Carpets have been laid out for the general public and lCD screens have been placed at various points along with CCTV cameras at various locations. Free yoga mats will also be distributed. However no special measures have been taken to tackle bad weather. "The weather won't act as a deterrent for the event. It will still go on as planned" said an official.
Several safety measures have also been undertaken in interest of the public. According to Suresh Kumar, Asst. Sub- inspector, Delhi Police, "Fire brigades, ambulances and CSIF and CRPF personnel will be deployed. Roads have also been blocked and check points have been placed."
Attitude of the public towards the event is positive. Bhavna Sumra, a first time participant, said such initiatives ecourage people to inculcate yoga into daily routine.
June 21was declared as International Yoga day by United Nations last year. last year, the nation celebrated the first International Yoga Day at Rajpath on June 21 lead by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.