AMN
For the first time about 200 crore people across the world are expected to participate in the inaugural International Yoga Day tomorrow.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has left for New York to lead the International Yoga Day tomorrow at the United Nations. The Indian Embassy in Washington and the Consulate General of India in New York have also lined up events to mark Yoga Day. Mrs. Swaraj, along with the UN Chief and the UNGA President, would visit Times Square where an estimated 30,000 people would practice Yoga and where the UN celebrations would also be broadcast live on giant screens.
Addressing a press briefing, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asoke Mukerji said 256 cities in 192 countries will celebrate the first annual day of Yoga.
In New Delhi, about 40,000 people are expected to participate in the event at Rajpath early morning.
Students, volunteers of NCC and Government officials will join to make it a success. Security arrangements have been made for the tomorrow celebration; thirty companies of security personnel will guard Rajpath and surrounding areas. Around 5,000 armed security personnel including Delhi policemen will be deployed to secure the yoga venue and area around it.
In Nagpur, Union Minister for Transport and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis will participate in the celebration. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will participate at a yoga programme in Lucknow. Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu will travel to Chennai where 30,000 people are expected to participate while Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma will visit Noida to participate.
The several others State Governments have also made elaborate arrangements on this occasion.