10 Things You Must Know About International Yoga Day

With the stage set for celebrations of the International Day of Yoga on June 21, here are 10 things you should know about the it, and how India is gearing up to make it a new world record. Take a look:

1. PM Modi's Yoga Day to begin at 6.40am on Sunday

AFP

The biggest gathering will be at the majestic Rajpath in the capital. Prime Minister Narenda Modi will arrive at 6.40 AM to participate in the function.

Around 37,000 people are expected to join the function on both sides of Rajpath giving the government the confidence to apply to the Guinness World Records for claiming the record for 'Largest Yoga Demonstration at a single venue.'

2. Baba Ramdev to exhibit asanas

AFP

Four experts, including Baba Ramdev, will be present at Rajpath to exhibit asanas, which will be projected through 28 big screens. Around 80-100 foreigners from around 50 countries are also expected to take part in the exercises. A 1,400 metre stretch on Rajpath will have 37,000 yoga mats laid out for the participants, many of whom will be government officers and staff. (Getty Images)

3. Cabinet ministers will fan out across India to participate in International Yoga Day

caravanmagazine.in

With the programme being held at various places simultaneously across the country, Cabinet ministers will also fan out to participate in the 35-minute drill. Nitin Gadkari along with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis will be in Nagpur, urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu will be in Chennai and food minister Ram Vilas Paswan in Patna. Agriculture minister Radhamohan Singh will be in Motihari, in Bihar, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Bhuvaneshwar and health minister JP Nadda will be in Hyderabad.

4. Sushma Swaraj is PM's pick for Yoga at UN

AFP

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will be in New York to lead the International Yoga Day (IYD) celebrations at the UN on June 21. Swaraj and Sri Sri Ravishankar will attend the function at UNO Hall in New York between 11.00 AM and 12.00 PM.

5. Taking yoga to the skies!

ANI

In keeping with the yogic philosophy of elevating the mind, SpiceJet, for instance, is teaming up with Isha Foundation to launch "High on Yoga@35000 feet" on Sunday.

The airline crew and yoga instructors will perform 'Upa Yoga' (a simple yet powerful style of yoga that activates the joints, muscles and energy system and incorporates pranayams) in a routine designed specifically to be done in-flight.

6. Elaborate arrangements: 40 ambulances to be on standby in Delhi

TOI

The health ministry will deploy around 200 personnel and 40 ambulances at different locations on Rajpath to cater to any first aid or emergency medical requirement. This would include general physicians, specialists and paramedical staff along with some medical equipment.

7. Stamp on International Yoga Day

news18.com

The government will release postage stamps to commemorate the occasion.

8. Delhi to celebrate 'Yoga Parv'

AFP

Delhi will also celebrate 'Yoga Parv' with art exhibitions, dance and music performances, as well as theatre shows and events like talks, meditation sessions and yoga workshops held across venues between June 21 and 27. (Getty Images)

9. Delhi Metro to start early for International Yoga Day

AFP

Delhi Metro operations will start at the crack of dawn with the first train scheduled to leave all terminal stations at 4 AM. Special arrangement for ticketing will be done at Kashmere Gate and Chandni Chowk stations in view of the anticipated crowd at these stations. At all the stations in the vicinity of Rajpath such as Race Course, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan, special arrangements for ticketing will be available.

10. Demand for yoga instructors likely to grow by 35%: Study

AFP

With increasing government focus and growing awareness about the benefits of yoga, it promises to become a multi-billion dollar market in the form of health clinics, ayurveda resorts, holiday camps and corporate training, an Assocham study said.

(Originally published in The Times of India)