Delhi municipal bodies ready for International Yoga Day

Aditya Vaibhav

New Delhi: The city’s civic bodies have geared up for the second ‘Yoga Day’ in the national capital. From issuing orders to its officials to be present at the venue early morning on June 21 to collaborating with multiple agencies or starting a regular yoga programme in their area, the agencies have made detailed plans. According to an estimate, more than 25,000 people are likely to the perform yoga at these events. The programme will start at 6am.The Common Protocol Yoga by all participants will start at 7am and go on till 7.45 am.

The city has five civic bodies — North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Delhi Cantonment Board. According to the three BJP-run municipal corporations, formal orders have been issued to all the officials to remain present at the venues. Municipal councillors have organised wardwise events. “Apart from smaller events in their respective parks, the corporations have decided to organise events on a larger scale at Ajmal Khan park in North MCD area, Yamuna sports club in EDMC area and Khatu Shyam Stadium in SDMC area,” highly placed EDMC sources said.

With a view to contributing its part in the Yoga Day grandeur, the Delhi Cantonment Board will hold a yoga event for army personnel and the general public alike. “Our own yoga instructors will perform at our Dussera Park. We have decided to launch a ‘Yoga Zone’ in one of our gardens starting from Tuesday, where trained instructors will teach the general public twice a day,” said D Reddy Sankar Babu, CEO, Delhi Cantonment Board.

The NDMC has tied up with the Ministry of Ayush and will organise the second Inter national Yoga Day at Connaught Place and its six radials and inner circle as well as at Lodhi Garden, Nehru Park and Talkatora Garden. “The activities planned for the day include yoga demonstration on wheelchair by Ability Unlimited, Trisha Kali Martial Art by CISF and Cultural programme by the students of Jnanasindhu School for Blind, Karnataka,” said Chanchal Yadav, secretary, NDMC adding that Sangram Singh would share his personal experience with the participants about the benefit of Yoga.

It may be mentioned here that The United Nations General Assembly had declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day on December 11, 2014, and the first International Yoga Day Celebration was held at Rajpath in New Delhi on June 21, 2015.