Final touches being given to make Yoga Day event successful

Final touches are being given to make the International Yoga Day event here tomorrow a grand success in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead thousands of Yoga enthusiasts in performing asanas, even as authorities kept their fingers crossed over weather condition.
According to the meteorological department, the sky will remain partly cloudy with possibility of rain or thunderstorm or dust storm tomorrow.
According to officials of Lucknow district administration, as many as 51,560 Yoga enthusiasts will be performing various Yoga asanas at the Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan. Apart from this, there will be participants from various organisations and schools.
Some prominent participants in the third International Yoga Day are Patanjali Sansthan, NCC, Dev Sanskriti Sansthan, Art of Living, Brahmakumaris, CRPF and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Apart from this, nearly 80 foreign participants are also likely to take part in the event.

The 80-minute event is scheduled to begin at around 6.30 AM, for which the state government has sent invites to leaders of various political parties, including former chief ministers Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party) and Mayawati (Bahujan Samaj Party).
"The participants will be allowed to enter the venue from 2.00 AM to 5.30 AM. Giant LED screens will be installed at the venue for them to have a close look at the yogic postures," Additional District Magistrate (Lucknow East) Virendra Pandey said.

"Besides, we will install LED screens at 11 parks in Lucknow for those unable to enter the venue," he said.

A tight security cordon has been thrown around the sprawling venue with commandos and paramilitary personnel keeping a close watch from vantage points, police said.
Officials said over 400 CCTV cameras would be installed for the tomorrow's event.
"Police chiefs of the adjoining districts of Lucknow have also been alerted to take preventive measures, especially in the wake of the Bharatiya Kisan Union's (BKU) call to stage protests on highways leading to the state capital," a senior police official said.
BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, "Our office-bearers, along with farmers, will be performing yoga on the streets of various cities in the state. This will be our way of protest against the government's attitude towards the farmers."

BKU general secretary Dharmendra Malik said the supporters of the outfit would perform 'sheersashan'.
On the Yoga Day, Samajwadi Party (SP) would take out 'cycle yatras' across the state to spread the message of environment conservation.
"SP national president Akhilesh Yadav has asked all the district presidents and office-bearers of the party to undertake cycle yatras on Yoga Day to spread the message of environment and health awareness," party spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhury said.
"SP leaders will perform yoga at the district headquarters and party workers will ride bicycles in their constituencies," he said.
It may be recalled that when the SP was in power in the state, it had shunned the Yoga Day celebrations.

On May 14, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Adityanath had reviewed the preparations for the Yoga Day event in the presence of Union Ayush Minister Shripad Yesso Naik.
To ensure that the event was a grand success, the chief minister had issued directions to hold a 28-day workshop for the participants, which begun last month.
Yesterday, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and the chief minister visited the venue to review the preparations.
The state roadways drivers who will be plying buses to the venue of the programme have been told strictly to park buses in parking lot and not drop passengers on the road.

A help desk has been set-up in Smriti Upwan parking to attend to any bus related problem.