PM Modi likely to join 40,000 people on Yoga Day event

With close to 40,000 people expected to take part in the 'International Yoga Day' event on June 21, the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) ministry is contemplating on registering the mega event into the Guinness Book of World Records.

"The ministry is attempting for Guinness Book of World Records. The conditions are very strenuous. Their (Guinness) parameters are very strict. Therefore we are working out on that aspect. Most probably we will do it," a senior official of the AYUSH ministry told PTI.

Sources said that the event may be registered as the largest demonstration of yoga display in one location. The 35-minute mass event will have display of various yoga 'asanas' by students, government officials, masses and other officials.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be present on the occasion is also expected to perform yoga.

Union Minister Shripad Naik of AYUSH, the coordinating ministry for the event had on Wednesday, said, "I think he (PM) will perform that day." He was asked whether Modi will beparticipating himself in doing yoga.

The senior official said that the ministry has covered the entire of Rajpath and around 35,000 people are expected to perform 'asanas' during the 35-minute event which starts at 7 am on June 21. The ministry will also provide equal number of mats on which the 'asanas' will be performed, he said.

The United Nations General Assembly had in December last year adopted an India-led resolution, supported by over 175 UN member-states, declaring June 21 as 'International Day of Yoga', recognising that "Yoga provides a holistic approach to health and well-being". Naik had said people across the country will do the same 'asanas' simultaneously and arrangements have been made accordingly. "The training for this has been going on for the last one month," he had said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, along with Naik, will be launching a special portal for the 'International Yoga Day' on June 9.

The day will be observed in over 250 cities in 190 countries across the world and Indian missions and diplomatic posts have made arrangements for the celebrations and other related events.