Govt to have 'grand' Yoga Day celebrations: Ayush Minister

New Delhi, Feb 19: The international Yoga Day will be celebrated on a "grand scale" this year with the government issuing an "improved" common protocol of asanas, besides holding other events to attract people specially students.

Ayush Minister Shripad Yesso Naik today said the Ministry of Human Resources Development has also been asked to organise a Yoga Olympiad to popularise the practice among students.

"The Ayush Ministry has decided to celebrate the International Yoga Day on a grand scale as compared to last year. A 45-minute common yoga protocol has been developed by experts committee of the yoga gurus, which is an improved version of last year's event. "We are requesting various yoga institutions to provide necessary technical support and guidance to the state for the event," Naik said.

He was addressing the ministers and senior bureaucrats of states and Union Territories. June 21 is celebrated as the World Yoga day.

"In addition, we have also requested Ministry of Human Resources Development to organise a Yoga Olympiad involving school children," Naik said.

Anil Kumar Ganeriwala, Joint Secretary in the Ministry, said "we are requesting important yoga institutions to provide technical guidelines to a group of states within their states so that there will be collaboration between the state governments and yoga institutions."

The Centre for Support for Yoga and Naturopathy will give funds to NGOs in each district of the country to organise a one-month training programme.

PTI