Yoga enthusiasts on Sunday turned up in big numbers to the last rehearsal for the main event of the International Day of Yoga in the expansive Mysuru Race Club (MRC) environs here on Thursday.
With only four days left for the mega yoga show, the organisers were hoping to put up a mammoth show connecting with all yoga enthusiasts and making it a big success.
As of now, around 70,000 people have registered to participate and perform yoga on June 21 but the number may even cross one lakh with yoga and educational institutions showing keen interest to send their students to the show. People can register online at www.yogadaymysuru.com
Minister for Tourism and Sericulture S.R. Mahesh; S.A. Ramdas and L. Nagendra, MLAs, took part in the mass yoga demonstration which began around 6.30 a.m.
Tourism Department Deputy Director H.P. Janardhana told The Hindu that about 10,000-12,000 yoga enthusiasts took part in the concluding rehearsal. “We had expected around 6,000 participants but the turn-out almost doubled, exceeding our anticipation. We are hoping for a large turn-out for the main event,” he said.
As per the Government of India protocol for the Yoga Day, 19 ‘Asanas’ will be performed at the main event on Thursday and the same was practised by the enthusiasts at the rehearsal. These asanas will be demonstrated by a team of yoga experts and participants have to follow the instructions and perform them at the main event.
The first two rehearsals were held on the premises of Mysuru palace and the turn-out was 1,000 and 3,500 respectively.
Schools and colleges, yoga institutions, hotel and restaurant staff and others have registered online and offline for the event and the number, according to Mr. Janardhana, was overwhelming. Institutions like the JSS Mahavidyapeeta confirmed to send over 15,000 students to the event.
“With people and institutions showing so much interest in the show, we are hoping that the number may cross a lakh,” he said.
Sources said the Tourism Minister has assured early release of funds to the event. One of the reasons cited for not applying for the Guinness record for this year’s yoga day was paucity of funds.
