They are not only co-sponsoring the event but have also expressed their desire to participate in the sessions in Indian missions, says Sushma
New Delhi : Who says Yoga is un-Islamic and so opposed by the Muslims? As many as 47 out of 177 countries co-sponsoring the observance of the first International Day of Yoga on June 21 are members of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). They are not only co-sponsoring the event being spearheaded by India but also expressed their desire to participate in the Yoga sessions to be organised that day in the Indian missions, according External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
She told a joint press conference with Minister of State for Ayush Shripad Naik that some of their diplomats in Delhi are expected to turn up at an hour-long grand Yoga show to be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rajpath here on the D-day at 6.40 AM. Modi will be giving demonstration of the Yoga “asanas” (exercises) himself that will be live telecast and also webcast.
In view of an expected large participation at Rajpath, Naik said his ministry has already approached the Guinness Book of World Records to depute observers to record it as ‘the largest Yoga demonstration/ class at a single venue’.
Naik, who is personally overseeing the arrangements for celebration of the Yoga declared as the international day by the United Nations on the request of Modi, said he was expecting not less than 35,000 people turn up at the Rajpath event. Those participating will include the union cabinet ministers, ministers of state, MPs, foreign nationals, students, NCC candidates and personnel from CRPF and Yoga institutions.
Swaraj said the Department of Post is bringing out a stamp on the International Day of Yoga and the Finance Ministry coins in the denomination of Rs 10 and Rs 100. Both the stamp and coins will be released on June 21. Naik said he has also written to the states to celebrate the Yoga international day in a big way by organising similar events at state, district and panchayat headquarters by performing Asanas from 7 AM to 7.35 AM.
His ministry had organised a month-long Yoga training camp for one NGO from each of the 651 districts so that they could be ready for the demonstration and Seminar on 21.06.2015.
A 20 second video animation spot on the logo has been prepared which is being telecast over Doordarshan and other private TV channels across the country. A booklet on Yoga Protocol and a 33-minute DVD of Aasanas which will be performed at the Rajpath of the D-Day has also been prepared by the AAYUSH Ministry.
Modi is already engaged in imparting lessons in Yoga on his Twitter handle. On Monday, he tweeted: “Over the last few days I shared aspects about standing postures. Today onwards we will shift to sitting postures, 1st of which is Bhadrasana.”
His another Twitter post puts a one-minute video clip with comments that ‘Bhadrasana, also known as the firm/auspicious posture, keeps the body firm and stabilises the mind’.
His Tuesday’s tweet is ‘Know more about Ardh Ushtrasana’, accompanied by a video clip of 1.24 minutes, showing four persons carrying out the Asana.
