20 lakh to participate in International Yoga Day events

More than 20 lakh people across the state are set to participate in yoga sessions on June 21 to mark the 11th International Yoga Day.

An official spokesperson said yoga programmes would be organised in all 22 districts and 121 blocks of the state on June 21.

More than 20 lakh citizens would come together to practice yoga, the spokesperson added. So far, over 12.10 lakh people have registered themselves through the official portal to participate.

As part of the Harit Yoga campaign to promote environmental awareness, more than 70,000 saplings have already been planted.

The main state-level event will be held at Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra, where CM Nayab Singh Saini and other dignitaries will participate in yoga sessions along with thousands of persons, in the presence of yoga guru Ramdev.

In 2014, PM Narendra Modi introduced yoga at the global stage at the United Nations General Assembly.

With the support of 177 countries, June 21 was declared International Yoga Day.

This year’s Yoga Day theme highlights yoga’s role in promoting physical, mental, and environmental wellbeing.

It aligned with the global call for unity and sustainability, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said, to promote yoga at the grassroots level, the state government had set a target of building 1,000 ‘vyayamshalas’ (gymnasiums) in rural areas.

So far, 714 had been completed, and 877 AYUSH yoga assistants had been appointed. Special yoga programmes would also be held at these ‘vyayamshalas’ on June 21.