The budget for this year's mega event is set to cross Rs 50 lakh, even as the Ayush ministry has cleared last year's dues only now, sources said.
Preparations have started in Lutyen's Delhi for the upcoming fourth International Yoga Day (IYD) on June 21. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) --- nodal agency in collaboration with the Ayush ministry --- to organise the event has started yoga practice sessions this week in the run-up to the event. The budget for this year's mega event is set to cross Rs 50 lakh, even as the Ayush ministry has cleared last year's dues only now, sources said.
"Last year, the total budget for the event was around Rs 50 lakh. The dues from the event have been cleared only recently. We are yet to procure mats and other essentials to be distributed during the event. We are expecting more participation this year," they said.
The Ayush ministry funds the civic body for organising the event and every year they get sponsors for the same.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who started the concept of Yoga Day, went to Lucknow last year to participate in the IYD, he is expected to miss the event in the Capital this year as well. The chief guest for the event is yet to be decided, the sources said.
The yoga sessions started this Monday and will continue till June 20 at Nehru Park, Talkatora Stadium and Lodhi Garden. The civic body also plans to hold a one-day 'wellness session' for its staff a day before the event.
"We have started the sessions early this year in order to be better prepared and create more awareness resulting in increased participation. Many morning walkers and joggers have joined the sessions," said a senior officer. The practice sessions are held by various yoga organisations including Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) and Patanjali, among others.
The first Yoga Day was observed in 2015, which was organised at the Rajpath and saw the participation of representatives from 191 countries.
At the behest of the PM, the United Nations had announced in December 2014 that June 21 will be celebrated as International Yoga Day every year.
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