Hopeful that the increase in temperature in the summer months will slow down the coronavirus spread, the Prime Minister Office has picked high-altitude Leh, the Capital of the newly created Union Territory of Ladakh, to host the main event of International Yoga Day (IDY) on June 21.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to lead the mega event, which is likely to be participated by over 20,000 yoga enthusiasts, the idea is to give fillip to the economy and ensure better health of the locals including tribals in Leh, Ladakh. This will be the first of its kind yoga programme on such a huge scale in the high-altitude region.
Sharing details of the proposed event with reporters here, Union Minister of Ayush, Shripad Naik said the PM is expected to perform 45 minutes yoga asanas based on the Common Yoga Protocol. The event is likely to be attended by 15,000 to 20,000 people.
“The event of IDY 2020 promises to be unique and different since such a large congregation for yoga will be taking place in a high altitude location like Leh for the first time,” said the Minister.
In a reply to a query, he said by the time the event will be held, which will be summer then, it is expected that coronavirus proliferation might go down in high temperature.
Industry bodies like CII, FICCI, Institute of Company Secretary and educational bodies like CBSE, NCERT, UGC and DAV have already prepared programmes for June 21. Last year the event was held in Ranchi.
A senior official said the high altitude Leh has been picked up for yoga event with an aim to create awareness about yoga on one hand and promote tourism in the region on the other hand. The Ministry has already been training yoga to the groups of women in the region to ensure their participation at the mega event as well engage them in yoga activities.
In Delhi, the main event will be held at Rajpath and it will be organised by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) along with the Ministry.
Naik also talked about the proposed National Institute for Sowa-Rigpa in Leh, Ladakh which was approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister last year. The institute will have the mandate to undertake interdisciplinary education and research programmes in Sowa-Rigpa in collaboration with premier national and international institutes and facilitate the integration of different systems of medicine.
Naik also said the proposed institute aims at bringing a valid and useful synergy between traditional wisdom of Sowa-Rigpa and modern science, tools and technology. It will help to promote interdisciplinary research & education of Sowa-Rigpa.