Connaught Place, other venues all set to host International Yoga Day

New Delhi, June 20: Connaught Place and six other venues in Delhi are all set to host thousands of people on the occasion of International Yoga Day on Tuesday.

The biggest turnout is likely to be at Connaught Place with 10,000 set to attend the event. Union Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu will be the Chief Guest and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi will be the guests of honour.

According to a senior NDMC official, members of Delhi government too have been invited for the event at the posh market area in central Delhi.

Celebrities like international wrestler Sangram Singh and Miss India 2014 Koyal Rana are also likley to attend the programme. Several diplomats and bureaucrats are likely to take part in events at Nehru Park and Lodhi Garden.

Rains may play a spoilsport as it had last year at Rajpath where the main event was held. According to weatherman, rainfall along with thunderstom and squall is expected at few places in the national capital.

"The gala event in Delhi's Connaught Place will start at 5:30 AM and will have talks on yoga, and musical performances. There would also be special yoga performances by two differently-abled groups, including yoga on wheelchair," a senior NDMC official said.

A team of 250 CISF personnel, including a CISF women commando team will also conduct a demonstration on 'Pekiti Tirsia Kali', a Filipino martial art. NDMC is in-charge of preparations at four venues -- Connaught Place, Lodhi Garden, Nehru Park and Talkatora Stadium.

Yoga day celebrations at three other locations -- Swarn Jayanti Park in Rohini, District Park in Dwarka and Yamuna Sports Complex in Surajmal Vihar -- will be managed by DDA. Apart from this, nearly 100 RWAs will also pitch in.

PTI