Diplomats, NCC cadets, schoolchildren, police personnel and bureaucrats will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate the first International Yoga Day at Rajpath on June 21. While diplomats from all 152 foreign missions present in India have been invited for the event in the Capital, about 11 lakh NCC cadets are expected to perform yoga across the country to mark the day. Around 40,000 people including 5,000 school children besides 5,000 members of armed police forces will also participate at the Rajpath event even as 9 lakh people under the HRD Ministry’s field units are expected to take part across the nation.
The UN General Assembly in December had adopted a resolution mooted by India declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day. The idea for International Yoga Day was proposed by the PM. It is learnt that Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Mahila Mandals under the Youth Affairs Ministry are expected to participate in yoga demonstrations in several districts. The day will also be observed in educational institutions.
To promote the big day in a big way, Department of AYUSH is also organising an international conference on yoga for holistic health. Exhibitions on Yoga will be organised through Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Ministry of Culture. The Tourism Ministry is making elaborate arrangements through its offices abroad to publicise the event. Indian missions abroad too have been asked to organise events to promote Yoga in those countries.