Mysuru: Despite having missed out on the chance to host the national and state International Yoga Day celebration, the Mysuru District Administration, Tourism Department and Yoga enthusiasts have not lost their spirit and are gearing up to better their own record of the largest gathering of people at a single venue during the International Yoga Day celebration to be held at Mysuru Race Course on June 21. This year around, the aim is to attract 80,000 Yoga enthusiasts.
Last year, Mysuru district created a Guinness world record for the largest gathering at a single venue with the active participation of 55,506 yoga enthusiasts at the spacious 139-acre Mysore Race Course thanks to the efforts of the district administration headed by the then deputy commissioner D Randeep.
It was also successful in conducting record-breaking chain link Yoga event which saw a participation of nearly 8381 students from various schools and colleges, especially those studying from the sixth standard to II PU at Mysuru Palace premise on June 19, 2017. This year the organizers will be focusing only on single venue International Yoga Day celebration. The organizers have planned to set the stage and made arrangements keeping in mind the targeted figure of 80,000 people.
Speaking to Newskarnataka, Janardhan, Deputy Director, Tourism Department, Mysuru district said, “Already nearly 5000 people have confirmed their participation for the International Day of Yoga celebration which will be held on June 21. We are going all-out in our efforts to make the event more successful by trying to attract at least 80,000 people at a single venue this year. Before the main mega event which will be held at Race Course on June 21, we will have two rehearsals-one inside Mysuru Palace premise on June 10 and at Mysuru Race Course on June 17. We have requested a Rs 55 Lakh grant from the government to conduct the event in a grand manner.” The main event will be held on June 21 between 6 AM and 8 AM, he added.
Dr. Seethalakshmi, Deputy Director, AYUSH department said, “We are not disappointed for not getting a chance to host national or state international Yoga day celebration but we all have made up our mind that we want to attract more people than in Dehradun, the host of this year’s national international Yoga day. They have planned to attract nearly 60,000 while we have targeted nearly 70,000. We are very much confident of attracting more than 70,000 people. The only concern we have is about the funds. Most of the participants arrive between 4.30 and 5 AM and will be here till 8.30 AM. If we can provide some refreshment to these participants it will be really nice on our part. Among the participants who take part in the International Yoga Day celebration, some may even be diabetic patients.”
Srihari Dwarkanath of GSS Yogic Science Foundation said, “Mentally and physically we are ready for one lakh people. Three to four months ago itself we had started training. The only thing we require is the support from the district administration and state government. If they give us support, like they had done last year, it will be easy for us to reach one lakh people. Already we have paid fees for a fast track record. We need not have a consultant. We need to prove that ticketing systems and blocks should be there. If the government spends money, achieving one lakh is not a problem for us. With last year’s experience, already we have spoken to individual heads and with the support from Yoga teams, government schools and college students and volunteers’ participation, we can easily reach our target. Dehradun has set a target of 60,000 people. We are very confident of surpassing this. One thing is for sure we will beat our own record, it is for everybody to respond to it.”
For online registration to take part in the International Yoga day celebration visit www.yogadaymysuru.com.
