By Mukesh 
Around 5,000 yoga practitioners are expected to participate in a mass yoga demonstration in front of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on June 21 as part of the State-level celebrations for the 12th International Day of Yoga, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Wednesday.
Addressing presspersons here after releasing Yoga posters and postcards, Mr. Rao said the event would be organised in line with guidelines issued by the Ministry of AYUSH under this year’s theme, “Yoga for Health, Knowledge and Global Peace.”
The State-level programme will be held from 6 am to 8 am with participation from AYUSH colleges, yoga institutions and various organisations. The 45-minute Common Yoga Protocol session prescribed by the Union government will be observed simultaneously across Karnataka from 7 am to 7.45 am, he said.
Governor to inaugurate
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot is expected to inaugurate the programme. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ministers, legislators, senior officials and yoga gurus are also expected to attend.
Mr. Rao added that efforts were also being made to invite sports personalities, celebrities and public figures to increase awareness about yoga.
Awareness programmes
The government was organising awareness programmes at district, taluk and village levels to promote yoga and holistic wellbeing.
Several themed programmes are also planned in Bengaluru and Mysuru. Special events such as “Vijnana Yoga” at IISc Bengaluru, “Carcino Yoga” at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and “Cardio Yoga” at Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Mysuru are planned in the run-up to Yoga Day.
The Government Ayurveda Research Centre, Mysuru, will organise national-level social media competitions and yoga-related activities in schools. More than one lakh people and 25,000 students are expected to participate.
Nearly 25 lakh people across Karnataka are expected to take part in Yoga Day events on June 21.